On Friday September 6 2002 06:19 pm, Olaf Marzocchi wrote:
> Is there a kernel compiled for i686 in the MDK9?
No, but it's very easy to compile one. Just edit the section of
/usr/src/linux/.config and comment out the arch you don't want (eg, 586)
and enable the one you do (eg, k7).
# Processor type and features
#
# CONFIG_M386 is not set
# CONFIG_M486 is not set
# CONFIG_M586 is not set (< --Mandrake default)
# CONFIG_M586TSC is not set
# CONFIG_M586MMX is not set
# CONFIG_M686 is not set (<--- i686)
# CONFIG_MPENTIUMIII is not set
# CONFIG_MPENTIUM4 is not set
# CONFIG_MK6 is not set
CONFIG_MK7=y (<-- Athlon, XP)
# CONFIG_MELAN is not set
# CONFIG_MCRUSOE is not set
>
> I heard that RH includes 3 kernel compiles in his distro: i486
> (useless for MDK), i686 and athlon.
If they do it's cause it is needed for Red Hat. The biggest
performance gain comes between i486 and i586, and Mandrake is already
i586 or better.
> I think a good idea would be to ship 3 kernels and let only the
> expert user choose (during install): i586, i686, athlon.
> The first is useful for old machines, the others are useful with
> newer machines.
>
> Olaf
I don't think it's such a good idea Olaf. It would require another
11 or 12 mb's of CD space for each kernel, and installation CD space is
already tight. Most 'expert users' know how to compile for their arch.
There's little or nothing to be gained, even compiling for Athlon. Many
have reported that compiling for i686 actually produces less
performance. It would put unneeded, unwarranted support obligations on
the Mandrake developers. EG, I've read some reports that compiling with
MPENTIUM4 support for P4 cpu's can cause problems, with no performance
enhancement. So, if true, this could cause support nightmares, for no
good reason.
That said, I'm d/ling kernel-source-2.4.19-9mdk as I type and I'll
shortly compile it for k7. (Can't even take my own advice ;) For
those that mentioned it in other threads, the changelog says VIA C3 is
now supported as i586.
--
Tom Brinkman Corpus Christi, Texas
Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft?
Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
