From owner-freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.ORG Fri Feb 10 14:11:27 2012 Return-Path: Delivered-To: stable@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id D7CC6106566B for ; Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:11:27 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from alexander@leidinger.net) Received: from mail.ebusiness-leidinger.de (mail.ebusiness-leidinger.de [217.11.53.44]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 7A7518FC15 for ; Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:11:27 +0000 (UTC) Received: from outgoing.leidinger.net (p4FC41EEA.dip.t-dialin.net [79.196.30.234]) by mail.ebusiness-leidinger.de (Postfix) with ESMTPSA id DD3E5844722 for ; Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:56:09 +0100 (CET) Received: from webmail.leidinger.net (webmail.Leidinger.net [IPv6:fd73:10c7:2053:1::3:102]) by outgoing.leidinger.net (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 245CB2C66 for ; Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:56:07 +0100 (CET) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=simple/simple; d=leidinger.net; s=outgoing-alex; t=1328882167; bh=c4vGkchq0+2FK1PizHEAyTdp4GxIMaVpEEnvyP+jrPs=; h=Date:Message-ID:From:To:Subject:Content-Type:MIME-Version; b=Lyd5SgrzDetXVYIbwC9S6uO7Wq6eHAoRFLs7BINIy72VYoRE3OArg4IzlQghOgBpM HBq/hAi9OGb3s4hCqaVvCNXR+QNRi6bwi9PfE+srZxBeZqHQd6EFww/y1y3IpTwv1E dG2xL0Umm6T/9xpCHyLxIO16NWNCaxB+Y3YQK7Ub2cD9s+h7AfSfcceYdT+PjXPl6Y TtldAKxIQRdJ+cP7NTIjlO7XbVCTelgPNSWHqjsfk/hpyRjRWZxomgG6+S65OUltz6 waCBzpgKLe6K2z8tVAKghF7TTXZicNt3Pcc/UBk45D4VlpCMw9t3A5lUft8nlQDLx6 RgQrYoAMvLrpg== Received: (from www@localhost) by webmail.leidinger.net (8.14.5/8.14.4/Submit) id q1ADu62B098720 for stable@FreeBSD.org; Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:56:06 +0100 (CET) (envelope-from Alexander@Leidinger.net) X-Authentication-Warning: webmail.leidinger.net: www set sender to Alexander@Leidinger.net using -f Received: from 85.94.224.19 ([85.94.224.19]) by webmail.leidinger.net (Horde Framework) with HTTP; Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:56:06 +0100 Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:56:04 +0100 Message-ID: <20120210145604.Horde.ewjpSpjmRSRPNSH0YRHxgAk@webmail.leidinger.net> From: Alexander Leidinger To: stable@FreeBSD.org User-Agent: Internet Messaging Program (IMP) H4 (5.0.18) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; DelSp=Yes MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Disposition: inline X-EBL-MailScanner-Information: Please contact the ISP for more information X-EBL-MailScanner-ID: DD3E5844722.A2FF5 X-EBL-MailScanner: Found to be clean X-EBL-MailScanner-SpamCheck: not spam, spamhaus-ZEN, SpamAssassin (not cached, score=-0.72, required 6, autolearn=disabled, AWL -0.61, DKIM_SIGNED 0.10, DKIM_VALID -0.10, DKIM_VALID_AU -0.10, T_RP_MATCHES_RCVD -0.01) X-EBL-MailScanner-From: alexander@leidinger.net X-EBL-MailScanner-Watermark: 1329486970.59465@OUn0/xCazLTUuudUVvjD3Q X-EBL-Spam-Status: No Cc: Subject: Reducing the need to compile a custom kernel X-BeenThere: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Production branch of FreeBSD source code List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:11:28 -0000 Hi, during some big discussions in the last monts on various lists, one of the problems was that some people would like to use freebsd-update but can't as they are using a custom kernel. With all the kernel modules we provide, the need for a custom kernel should be small, but on the other hand, we do not provide a small kernel-skeleton where you can load just the modules you need. This should be easy to change. As a first step I took the generic kernel and removed all devices which are available as modules, e.g. the USB section consists now only of the USB_DEBUG option (so that the module is build like with the current generic kernel). I also removed some storage drivers which are not available as a module. The rationale is, that I can not remove CAM from the kernel config if I let those drivers inside (if those drivers are important enough, someone will probably fix the problem and add the missing pieces to generate a module). Such a kernel would cover situations where people compile their own kernel because they want to get rid of some unused kernel code (and maybe even need the memory this frees up). The question is, is this enough? Or asked differently, why are you compiling a custom kernel in a production environment (so I rule out debug options zhich are not enabled in GENERIC)? Are there options which you add which you can not add as a module (SW_WATCHDOG comes to my mind)? If yes, which ones and how important are they for you? Bye, Alexander. -- Cheit's Lament: If you help a friend in need, he is sure to remember you-- the next time he's in need. http://www.Leidinger.net Alexander @ Leidinger.net: PGP ID = B0063FE7 http://www.FreeBSD.org netchild @ FreeBSD.org : PGP ID = 72077137