On Fri, Oct 08, 1999 at 11:29:06PM +0200, Marc Mutz wrote:
> "1stFlight !" wrote:
> >
> > I'm running a box with 128MB of ram does it really matter how large my
> > kernel gets? How about if I've only got 32MB ? Is it faster to have
> <snip>
the first problem you'll hit is if the kernel is bigger than a
certain size(don't remember), you won't be able to boot it.
modules are really useful.. I've got debian on laptop, and
( i'm pretty sure this is required ) all the PCMCIA card drivers
are modules, so I don't waste space having a driver for an ethernet
card I don't have in the slot.
another is example is the router I built.. I'm about to bring it down
to physically move, but It's been running for months. When I do, I'm
going to put a second ethernet card in it(for when DSL comes), which
won't get used, but I won't have to bring the machine down to do the
switchover from modem->ethernet, to ethernet->ethernet routing, since
I'll be able to load a module. If I had the driver in the kernel, I
would be wasting space until I actually needed it.
>
> 1.) ...can save you some kernel compilation time when you do this often.
> 2.) ...can save a bit of memory
> 3.) ...lowers security a bit
> 4.) ...is enforced by some drivers (e.g. NeoMagic audio :-( )
all true..
> 5.) ...is impossible / can be complicated with some drivers (scsi? eth?)
I've never done SCSI. Ethernet is actually eaiser to do as modules,
especially on machines with more than one... If I want two ne2000
cards in a machine, I have to put something arcane in lilo.conf,
to keep them apart, whereas with modules, I can add them later...
I don't think SCSI is particurally difficult, you just have to remember
that if your root filesystem is on a SCSI drive, you need scsi in the
kernel. I think SCSI modules are actually require for some stuff like
IDE CD-Writers...
> 6.) ...makes testing easier
yup
> 7.) ...requires editing conf.modules/modules.conf most of the time
depends on distribution...
debian includes a utility called update-modules, that should
take care of that stuff for you...
have a nice day
greg
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