Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2003 22:46:18 -0500 From: Damien Tougas <damien@tougas.net> To: Andrew Boothman <andrew@cream.org>, John Baldwin <jhb@FreeBSD.org> Cc: freebsd-chat@freebsd.org Subject: Re: A question about kernel modules Message-ID: <200303072246.18636.damien@tougas.net> In-Reply-To: <3E69329B.2040803@cream.org> References: <XFMail.20030307152559.jhb@FreeBSD.org> <3E69329B.2040803@cream.org>
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On Friday 07 March 2003 07:00 pm, Andrew Boothman wrote: > >Nope. cdboot loads up a /boot/loader and you are free to load > >whatever modules you want off the CD just as if you were booting > >from a hard drive. That said, I personally favor static kernels > >and only use modules when I'm testing things. > > I guess this is really the nub of the question. > > Why do you "personally favour" static kernels over modules? Yes, that really is the question. I have traditionally always done the same, compiling everything into my kernel. I guess I am wondering what the point of kernel modules are, and if they are considered to be a stable, viable way of configuring my kernel. If there are good reasons why I should not use them (or not use them in specific situations), I would be intersted in knowing what those are. > I, like you, tend to compile everything into my kernel but that's more > out of habit than for any other reason as I have been compiling kernels > since about 2.2.7 which I think pre-dates kernel modules. I don't know much about the technology behind kernel modules, but I get the sense that people get used to doing things a certain way, and stick with it because it is what they have always done, regardless if there is another way (even if it might be technically better - although I am in no position to be the judge of that in this situation). From a convenience standpoint, kernel modules seem much more practical to me. I like the idea of being able to load/unload device drivers, etc. at runtime. I, however, have no idea what the impact is on things like stability and performance. -- Damien Tougas To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message
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