To patch or to use the full source?

liquidtenmilion · 06-12-2004, 08:29 PM

I am wondering whether it would be better to upgrade a kernel by using patches or by using the full source. Earlier today i used the patch to upgrade my 2.6.6 to 2.6.7-rc3. This is the first time i have used a patch as i always use the full source. Would there be any consequences of using a patch, and should i upgrade to 2.6.7 official when it comes up by using a patch. And then to 2.6.8 or would i get better performance compiling from the Full Source.

trickykid · 06-12-2004, 10:33 PM

If your going in sequential number, like from 2.6.5 to 2.6.6, use the patch, its smaller download and does the same job. Use the full source if you need to jump kernels say from 2.4.25 to 2.6.6 or something like that.. cause then that would be less time consuming instead of applying patch after patch to get up to the latest release, etc.

liquidtenmilion · 06-13-2004, 11:05 AM

Ok, one more question. If i apply the -mm patch, would i then be able to patch my kernel up to 2.6.7 when it comes out or would i have to use the full source. Oh yeah, would i be able to patch from 2.6.3 to 2.6.6

trickykid · 06-13-2004, 11:08 AM

If you patch your kernel from 2.6.5 to 2.6.6.. and when 2.6.7 comes out.. you can clearly patch it with no problems. If you wanted to upgrade from 2.6.3 to 2.6.6, easier to just upgrade from the full source in my opinion.. instead of applying 3 patches to get 2.6.6.

SBing · 06-13-2004, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by liquidtenmilion
Oh yeah, would i be able to patch from 2.6.3 to 2.6.6

Yes, as trickykid said these patches are sequential, I.E.

2.6.3 + patch == 2.6.4
2.6.4 + patch == 2.6.5 ...

If you are really strapped for bandwidth then it might be better, but it is a lot simpler just to download the full source for latest version than go through multiple patches.

Steve

e1000 · 06-13-2004, 07:29 PM

also one should consiter the band with limits on the other end, kernel.org does not have unlimited band width (contrary to popular opinion) and by downloading the smaller patches, you free up bandwidth to other people who are downloading things.

downloading full sources is best done for big jumps,

oh yea, the script ".../linux-version/scripts/patch-kernel" makes it very easy to patch the kernel even with multiple patches. Just read the file, it explains its self well. (I dont know if you already knew about this or not)