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Date:      31 Oct 2002 20:19:28 -0600
From:      Larry Rosenman <ler@lerctr.org>
To:        Jeff Seeman <danger@e-lated.org>
Cc:        Mike Hoskins <mike@adept.org>, Gregory Bond <gnb@itga.com.au>, Robert Bell <tradica@yahoo.com>, freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: Kernel build - new build too big
Message-ID:  <1036117169.391.18.camel@lerlaptop.lerctr.org>
In-Reply-To: <20021031181249.X1160-100000@omen.e-lated.org>
References:  <20021031181249.X1160-100000@omen.e-lated.org>

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On Thu, 2002-10-31 at 20:14, Jeff Seeman wrote:
> What exactly is the pro/cons to having a kernel of a particular size?
> for example is smaller really better when it comes to kernels?

Kernel memory is non-pagable, therefore smaller kernel equals more
memory available for other stuff. 

If you are not using driver(s) in the kernel, the real memory for them
is wasted.

LER
> 
> Jeff Seeman
> Technical Instructor
> 
> On Thu, 31 Oct 2002, Mike Hoskins wrote:
> 
> > On Fri, 1 Nov 2002, Gregory Bond wrote:
> >
> > > > The new kernel is almost twice as big.
> > > > Usually the diff is a few K at most.
> > > run "size /kernel*" for a more accurate idea of how big the program (as
> > > opposed to the program file) is.
> >
> > He reported the size going up after an upgrade.  If the output of ls or
> > size double after an upgrade...  The numbers have doubled.  As long as you
> > compare apples with apples, I believe ls or size serves our purpose.
> >
> > FWIW, my kernel did not change much at all after my last cvsup,
> >
> > mike@mojo{~}$ ls -al /kern*
> > -r-xr-xr-x  1 root  wheel  2270494 Oct  9 18:02 /kernel*
> > -r-xr-xr-x  1 root  wheel  2270201 Sep 19 14:02 /kernel.old*
> > mike@mojo{~}$ size /kern*
> >    text    data     bss     dec     hex filename
> > 1640773  226708  117268 1984749  1e48ed /kernel
> > 1640521  226644  117268 1984433  1e47b1 /kernel.old
> >
> > So, no significant changes observed here, but that doesn't really tell you
> > anything!
> >
> > He was using a laptop, perhaps it's apm, etc. related.  Regardless, why
> > run a GENERIC (or "close to GENERIC") kernel?  I don't see anything in
> > /sys/i386/conf/* that's too difficult to understand...  So why load
> > options you don't need?
> >
> >
> > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org
> > with "unsubscribe freebsd-stable" in the body of the message
> >
> 
> 
> To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org
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> 
-- 
Larry Rosenman                     http://www.lerctr.org/~ler
Phone: +1 972-414-9812                 E-Mail: ler@lerctr.org
US Mail: 1905 Steamboat Springs Drive, Garland, TX 75044-6749


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