[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Gilles Mocellin) writes: >> All the process for building and installing a new kernel doesn't require to >> reboot, only the load into memory needs it. >> >> You could imagine, and this could be a great improvement in >> cooker'developpment that you just switch from one kernel to another one. >> >> I iomagine this could be accomplished by freezing ALL the kernel features, >> letting only the old kernel control all the protocol. >> >> As an example, your kernel handles the etx3fs, freezes all operations on it, >> transfers all the features to the new kernel, and unfreezes it. >> And so on for all the needed features. >> >> I'm not sure it is possible, but has anyone ever thought of this ?
http://lwn.net/Articles/18174/ config KEXEC bool "kexec system call (EXPERIMENTAL)" depends on EXPERIMENTAL help kexec is a system call that implements the ability to shutdown your current kernel, and to start another kernel. It is like a reboot but it is indepedent of the system firmware. And like a reboot you can start any kernel with it not just Linux. The name comes from the similiarity to the exec system call. It is on an going process to be certain the hardware in a machine is properly shutdown, so do not be surprised if this code does not initially work for you. It may help to enable device hotplugging support. As of this writing the exact hardware interface is strongly in flux, so no good recommendation can be made. PS: Only for 2.5.x thought. -- Chmouel -- http://www.chmouel.com/
