LinuxQuestions.org
Share your knowledge at the LQ Wiki.
Home Forums Tutorials Articles Register
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Slackware
User Name
Password
Slackware This Forum is for the discussion of Slackware Linux.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 07-26-2013, 11:19 PM   #1
textillis
Member
 
Registered: May 2013
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Distribution: Slackware64-current, Mint Nadya
Posts: 299

Rep: Reputation: 2
generic kernel for -currrent with 8GB ram: how much of a time saving?


And how much difference would I notice in generalized speed of system:
  1. - opening/closing files;
  2. - opening/closing apps; and
  3. - using sbopkg & other package tools
(This question is sparked by an issue raised by me re. slowed startup time for X due to recent creation and editing of config files,http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...es-4175471087/
Thanks

Last edited by textillis; 07-27-2013 at 01:34 AM. Reason: generic, kernel, startup, speed,
 
Old 07-27-2013, 01:10 AM   #2
TracyTiger
Member
 
Registered: Apr 2011
Location: California, USA
Distribution: Slackware
Posts: 528

Rep: Reputation: 273Reputation: 273Reputation: 273
Quote:
Originally Posted by textillis View Post
And how much difference would I notice in generalized speed of system:
  1. - opening/closing files;
  2. - opening/closing apps; and
  3. - using sbopkg & other package tools
Hi textillis !

Rather than asking about performance differences, why don't you configure the different scenarios/configurations you're interested in and then tell us all what performance differences you noticed.
 
1 members found this post helpful.
Old 07-27-2013, 01:25 AM   #3
textillis
Member
 
Registered: May 2013
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Distribution: Slackware64-current, Mint Nadya
Posts: 299

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 2
> Tracy Tiger
Good suggestion.
The very fact that I asked the question belies a lingering reticence which I have no reason to keep and every reason to jettison!

If I can configure my own conky and use my own aliases, and keep my system -current, I guess it is high time I switched to full play/experiment mode in slackware, then bring home the goodies to others.

Thanks for the gentle, timely shove

Last edited by textillis; 07-27-2013 at 01:33 AM.
 
Old 07-27-2013, 04:09 AM   #4
solarfields
Senior Member
 
Registered: Feb 2006
Location: slackalaxy.com
Distribution: Slackware, CRUX
Posts: 1,449

Rep: Reputation: 997Reputation: 997Reputation: 997Reputation: 997Reputation: 997Reputation: 997Reputation: 997Reputation: 997
i don't think you will see any noticeable difference. The machine may boot a bit faster with the generic kernel.
 
1 members found this post helpful.
Old 07-27-2013, 06:15 AM   #5
textillis
Member
 
Registered: May 2013
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Distribution: Slackware64-current, Mint Nadya
Posts: 299

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 2
>Solarfields

That is what I thought I had gleaned from the bit of reading I'd done on the subject. But as Tracy suggests above: why not try it as an experiment?

I'll post back just in case its of interest to someone at some time.
 
Old 07-27-2013, 06:23 AM   #6
H_TeXMeX_H
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Oct 2005
Location: $RANDOM
Distribution: slackware64
Posts: 12,928
Blog Entries: 2

Rep: Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301
It will definitely boot faster. For more performance in other things you'll have to compile your own kernel. However, the difference here is also small, so you may not notice a difference.
 
1 members found this post helpful.
Old 07-27-2013, 07:11 AM   #7
textillis
Member
 
Registered: May 2013
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Distribution: Slackware64-current, Mint Nadya
Posts: 299

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 2
>Solarfields

That is what I thought I had gleaned from the bit of reading I'd done on the subject. But as Tracy suggests above: why not try it as an experiment?

I'll post back just in case its of interest to someone at some time.
 
Old 07-27-2013, 07:13 AM   #8
textillis
Member
 
Registered: May 2013
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Distribution: Slackware64-current, Mint Nadya
Posts: 299

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 2
>H TexMex,
Thanks. I won't be putting myself through that rigorous process unnecessarily
 
Old 07-27-2013, 07:58 AM   #9
solarfields
Senior Member
 
Registered: Feb 2006
Location: slackalaxy.com
Distribution: Slackware, CRUX
Posts: 1,449

Rep: Reputation: 997Reputation: 997Reputation: 997Reputation: 997Reputation: 997Reputation: 997Reputation: 997Reputation: 997
Quote:
But as Tracy suggests above: why not try it as an experiment?
Of course. Also, it is recommended that you switch to the generic kernel after you install the system. If you look here for example, you will find the following:

Quote:
Use one of the provided generic kernels for daily use. Do not report
bugs until/unless you have reproduced them using one of the stock
generic kernels. You will need to create an initrd in order to boot
the generic kernels - see /boot/README.initrd for instructions.
The huge kernels are primarily intended as "installer" and "emergency"
kernels in case you forget to make an initrd.
 
1 members found this post helpful.
Old 07-27-2013, 10:16 AM   #10
TobiSGD
Moderator
 
Registered: Dec 2009
Location: Germany
Distribution: Whatever fits the task best
Posts: 17,148
Blog Entries: 2

Rep: Reputation: 4886Reputation: 4886Reputation: 4886Reputation: 4886Reputation: 4886Reputation: 4886Reputation: 4886Reputation: 4886Reputation: 4886Reputation: 4886Reputation: 4886
I often experiment with kernels and therefore the huge configuration is always my first choice, since I don't want to rebuild the initrd every time I have compiled a new kernel. I couldn't notice any difference in performance between huge and generic kernels. There may be a difference in boot time, but since I boot from a fast SSD this is not noticeable for me.
You should get a larger performance increase (although it shouldn't actually not be that large) with compiling a kernel optimized for your CPU than with switching to generic.
 
Old 07-27-2013, 10:26 AM   #11
H_TeXMeX_H
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Oct 2005
Location: $RANDOM
Distribution: slackware64
Posts: 12,928
Blog Entries: 2

Rep: Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301Reputation: 1301
You will get a greater performance increase going from 32-bit to 64-bit than from compiling your own custom kernel.

The huge kernel boots extremely slowly on older computers and slightly more slowly on newer computers, compared to generic. This is because it has to be loaded into RAM. As the huge kernel is huge, it takes a very long time on older computers.
 
Old 07-27-2013, 10:59 AM   #12
textillis
Member
 
Registered: May 2013
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Distribution: Slackware64-current, Mint Nadya
Posts: 299

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 2
generic kernel for current brings no noticeable performance increase

I followed Pat's readme and created the initrd-tree, the initrd.gz, adjusted lilo.conf settings by adding the appropriate line in the right spot, then re-ran lilo before going for reboot.

I didn't physically time both boot sequences, however, I am satisfied (by having had to reboot an inordinate number of times due to noob-klutz, that it is the same (certainly the time the splash on xfce is the same, though I expect this is incidental, since it is X starting up)

I guess my next target is Tobi's suggestion to build a machine-customized kernel (though even as i type those words, it seems like a "bridge too far" for the moment; maybe not; I'll have a look at it Tobi

thanks to all respondents!

PS incidentally: how can I be 100% sure that I am running the generic kernel?
I tried uname -a but that didn't provide such information
 
Old 07-27-2013, 11:51 AM   #13
textillis
Member
 
Registered: May 2013
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Distribution: Slackware64-current, Mint Nadya
Posts: 299

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 2
>TexMex
Already running SW64-current

>Tobi
Thanks; probably give it a miss for the time being if that is the case.
 
Old 07-27-2013, 12:46 PM   #14
AlleyTrotter
Member
 
Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Coal Township PA
Distribution: Slackware64-15.0
Posts: 783

Rep: Reputation: 479Reputation: 479Reputation: 479Reputation: 479Reputation: 479
When you do decide to build your own kernels I would suggest you review the script
Code:
/usr/src/linux/scripts/kconfig/streamline_config.pl
It will build a kernel with only the modules required by your system.
My kernel was reduced from 3095 modules to only 67 modules using this script
The script is called by using
Code:
make localmodconfig
Something to look at when you are bored.

OT had a chance to visit Australia in 1970. Greatly enjoyed my time there.
John
 
Old 07-27-2013, 03:27 PM   #15
glorsplitz
Senior Member
 
Registered: Dec 2002
Distribution: slackware!
Posts: 1,308

Rep: Reputation: 368Reputation: 368Reputation: 368Reputation: 368
@AlleyTrotter, do you know how much different streamline_config.pl is to mkinitrd_command_generator.sh?

thanks
 
  


Reply

Tags
generic, initrd, kernel 3, speed, startup



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
[SOLVED] Do I really need 8GB RAM? makeyourself Linux - Hardware 17 02-17-2013 01:00 PM
8GB of Ram not being recognized Ordinary12 Linux - Desktop 14 08-15-2010 11:02 PM
generic kernel boot time parameters ignored shadowsnipes Slackware 4 12-21-2008 07:04 AM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Slackware

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:10 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration