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Re: [Sheflug] Kernals (was re: System Bus)




> I have just been reading this thread,  I just wondered if all distributuions were "vendor" kernals?  
> And am I also right in thinking you can change the kernal your system is running?
> It might seem a daft question but I never realised you could swap/change parts of the linux os which were so fundemental to it running.
> Cheers
> Doug
> 

[[snip HTML attachment. Bad and wrong. ]]

Nope, not all distrs use patched kernels - Slackware uses a stock kernel. 
SuSE and Redhat patch/modify it to make their own value added kernel. 
Debian I don't know, but I think it's like slackware using an untainted 
kernel. Can't speak for other dists as I don't know them :)

You can change the kernel your system is running, but unless you know what 
you need to configure to build the thing, you can make your system unusable 
(e.g., by leaving out the drivers for the keyboard - rather fundamental :) ).

I've used a self-built stock kernel for years - mostly as I've got all 
sorts of esoteric hardware, plus it means I can cut out a lot of the crud 
that could otherwise be installed. If you're not comfortable with building, 
then stick with the default if it does what you want :)

The really fundamental parts of the kernel you can't swap out (i.e., the 
task scheduler and the memory management) but both of them can be tweaked 
through /proc/sys/*. Everything else is pretty much drivers, and their 
associated parameters[1].

Chris...

[1] I'm ignoring the fact that some fundamental things can be changed, like 
target CPU parameters and upper limit for memory... :) but they won't break 
the system[2]
[2] Though I've never tried building a kernel set to P4 and sticking it on 
a 386. I suspect it won't work :) But I suppose CPU choice is a "type of" 
driver :)

-- 
\ Chris Johnson           \ NP: Delerium - 08. Flowers Become Screens (Frequ
 \ cej [at] nightwolf.org.uk    ~-----,  ency Modulation Mix) 
  \ http://cej.nightwolf.org.uk/  ~-----------------------------------, 
   \ Redclaw chat - http://redclaw.org.uk - telnet redclaw.org.uk 2000 \____


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