Is a kernel full of modules options bloated ?

Bluesuperman · 10-17-2003, 10:21 PM

Hello,

Do you know if a kernel full of module options is consider bloated ?

I have build a custom kernel and only compiled in things that I know I need, but I enabled a large amount of options as modules.

After a fresh boot I am using 30MB of RAM - is this a lot ?? Is my kernel bloated and slow ??

wdingus · 10-17-2003, 10:28 PM

Type "lsmod" to see what modules are loaded in RAM right now. Compiling something as a module and NOT having the associated device installed that the module is for will result in the module not being loaded and therefore not taking up any RAM. There's always going to be folks suggesting that you build a custom kernel with only the devices you have built into the kernel and not as modules. They'll claim that makes it faster, safer, etc.. I can kind of buy the safer in that someone could root your box and drop in a stealth kernel module but then they could backdoor your non-module-kernel config somehow as well. Anyway, I personally like RedHat's approach of having *everything* as a module. If my NIC ever dies and I put in a new one it'll just simply work...

Bluesuperman · 10-17-2003, 10:53 PM

Thanks for your quick response - I will leave my kernel with all the modules built in. I only have 3 mods loaded.

Nic, ide-scsi, usb crap