[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread] 

List:       netbsd-port-i386
Subject:    Re: Stripping of the GENERIC kernel config
From:       Daniel Carosone <dan () geek ! com ! au>
Date:       2008-11-23 9:22:55
Message-ID: 20081123092255.GK29265 () bcd ! geek ! com ! au
[Download RAW message or body]


On Sun, Nov 23, 2008 at 09:48:22AM +0100, Jochen Kunz wrote:
> Also: moving things like ffs out of the kernel and make it a module is,
> ahhhm, lets call it irrational to me. ffs is essential. It is allways
> needed. It is allways loaded. You can't unload it. What is the reason
> behind modularizing it? It doesn't make any sense to me. 

This is exactly right ....  IFF your root filesystem is ffs.
Otherwise it will be some other fs, and ffs can be used and unloaded
as needed.  We can have root on ffs, ext2, msdos, and others.    

In particular, consider liveCD and installCD with cd9660 root, this
can use the same kernel as it installs.

The ability to have any filesystem loaded, even for the root, is
important; it helps avoid special cases and ensures that the modular
system fully meets and tests the design goals.

> A Unix kernel shold have everything compiled in that is needed for
> accessing /. Modules are fine for rarely used things, for 3rd party
> binary modules and for testing. But not for vital kernel components.

I agree with you, and you can and should customise your kernel
accordingly, once you know what these components are for your system
and usage.

--
Dan.

[Attachment #3 (application/pgp-signature)]

[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread]