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Date:      Thu, 6 Dec 2012 20:22:42 GMT
From:      Bas Smeelen <b.smeelen@ose.nl>
To:        freebsd-gnats-submit@FreeBSD.org
Subject:   docs/174244: [patch] faq: why-kernel-big
Message-ID:  <201212062022.qB6KMg6a034410@red.freebsd.org>
Resent-Message-ID: <201212062030.qB6KU1Zr061551@freefall.freebsd.org>

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>Number:         174244
>Category:       docs
>Synopsis:       [patch] faq: why-kernel-big
>Confidential:   no
>Severity:       non-critical
>Priority:       low
>Responsible:    freebsd-doc
>State:          open
>Quarter:        
>Keywords:       
>Date-Required:
>Class:          update
>Submitter-Id:   current-users
>Arrival-Date:   Thu Dec 06 20:30:00 UTC 2012
>Closed-Date:
>Last-Modified:
>Originator:     Bas Smeelen
>Release:        9.1
>Organization:
>Environment:
>Description:
update faq and add more information
>How-To-Repeat:

>Fix:
Index: en_US.ISO8859-1/books/faq/book.xml
===================================================================
--- en_US.ISO8859-1/books/faq/book.xml	(revision 40284)
+++ en_US.ISO8859-1/books/faq/book.xml	(working copy)
@@ -4114,18 +4114,27 @@
 	</question>
 
 	<answer>
-	  <para>Chances are, you compiled your kernel in <emphasis>debug
-	    mode</emphasis>.  Kernels built in debug mode contain many
-	    symbols that are used for debugging, thus greatly increasing
-	    the size of the kernel.  Note that there will be little or
-	    no performance decrease from running a debug kernel, and it
-	    is useful to keep one around in case of a system
-	    panic.</para>
+	  <para>GENERIC kernels shipped with &os; 7.x and later are compiled
+	    in <emphasis>debug mode</emphasis>. Kernels built in debug mode
+	    contain many symbols in separate files that are used for
+	    debugging, thus greatly increasing the size of /boot/kernel/.
+	    Note that there will be little or no performance decrease
+	    from running a debug kernel, and it is useful to keep one around
+	    in case of a system panic.</para>
 
-	  <para>However, if you are running low on disk space, or you
-	    simply do not want to run a debug kernel, make sure that
-	    both of the following are true:</para>
+	  <para>However, if you are running low on disk space, there are
+	    different options to reduce the size of /boot/kernel/.</para>
 
+	  <para>- If you do not want the symbol files to be installed,
+	    make sure you have the following line present in /etc/src.conf:
+
+	    <programlisting>WITHOUT_KERNEL_SYMBOLS=yes</programlisting>
+
+	    For more information see &man.src.conf.5</para>
+
+	  <para>- If you simply do not want to build a debug kernel, make
+	    sure that both of the following are true:</para>
+
 	  <itemizedlist>
 	    <listitem>
 	      <para>You do not have a line in your kernel configuration
@@ -4142,9 +4151,30 @@
 
 	  <para>Either of the above settings will cause your kernel to
 	    be built in debug mode.  As long as you make sure you follow
-	    the steps above, you can build your kernel normally, and you
-	    should notice a fairly large size decrease; most kernels
-	    tend to be around 1.5&nbsp;MB to 2&nbsp;MB.</para>
+	    the steps above, you can build your kernel normally</para>
+
+	  <para>- If you want only the modules you use to be built
+	    and installed, make sure you have a line like below in
+	    /etc/make.conf:</para>
+
+	    <programlisting>MODULES_OVERRIDE= accf_http ipfw</programlisting>
+
+	  <para>Replace <emphasis>accf_httpd ipfw</emphasis> with a list
+	    of modules you need. Only these modules will be built. This
+	    does not only reduce the size of the kernel directory but
+	    also decreases the amount of time needed to build your kernel.
+	    For more information see /usr/share/examples/etc/make.conf
+	    </para>
+
+	  <para>- You can also remove unneeded devices from your kernel
+	    to further reduce the size. See <xref linkend="make-kernel"
+	    remap="another section"/>for more information.</para>
+
+	  <para>To put any of these options into effect you will have
+	    to build and install your new kernel.</para> 
+ 
+	  <para>Most kernels (/boot/kernel/kernel)
+	    tend to be around 12&nbsp;MB to 16&nbsp;MB.</para>
 	</answer>
       </qandaentry>


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