What constitutes the time it takes to load the kernel (e.g. when you select it in lilo). Not the actual linux startup time, but when it says (in my case) booting linux-2.6.16.15.........................
I compiled the kernel with a pretty minimal amount of drivers and junk, so it shouldnt be that big of a kernel. It takes more than 12 seconds more mine to load. Thanks for your responce.

I'm not sure but if I had to guess, I'd say "kernel boot time" would be the time between when it says "Uncompressing vmlinuz" to when init is run. On my system it would be only a couple of seconds, if that.

I know, most linux system I have used it only takes like 2 seconds (from the time it loads 2.x.x........... to the time it says bios data check successful'). So, I am still wondering what variables determine the time it takes to load (or uncompress, if thats all its doing?) the kernel.

remember the services are in user space so kernel boot time is the part before that i'd say.

ofcourse i might be wrong...

I understand that there is a lack of terminology for boot and startup times with operating systems, but I am not looking to define the phrase "kernel startup time" nor am I trying to understand it. I am simply asking a question about the kernel load time before the kernel starts. To define my question more clearly: The time inbetween selecting the kernel to boot from the boot loader (e.g. lilo) and the "bios data check successful" message. More simply put: The time it takes the dots to reach the edge of the screen after hitting enter next to your kernel.
Boot: Kernel-2.6.16.15........................................................................................... .................................................................................................... ..............................................................
I hope that clears up any misconceptions within my question. Thanks.

well then in that case, it depends on hardware,kernel size and a million and 1 other things...

Thats why I was curious about it......... I have a pretty small kernel and a very fast system. I've seen systems that are way slower with comparable kernel sizes that boot them in a second (my system takes atleast 8 seconds to boot it). Its not a problem, just a question.

its mostly all in the architecture and hardware.

eg : hd's the spin at different speeds 5400,7200 ,whatever

My point was that its obviously not that: My system has a 10k hard drive, and ive seen it boot atleast 5 times faster on an old laptop with a 4.2k drive...

remember laptop connections and desktop connections
(ide etc) are different.

This is going nowhere

~Out.

As I understand it, you are wondering if the fact that it takes a much longer time to decompress the kernel on one system then it does on another, slower system is a problem correct? If it is one, it would be nigh impossible to diagnose. I'd just put up with it as long as the rest of the system is zippy.