Device Drivers and Kernel Modules

[Lowell Gilbert]

"David Wassman" <opensrc.root at gmail.com> writes:

> I am trying to figure out which would be best, to load all the device
> drivers through compiling them into the kernel or to load them at boot
> through loader.conf.
>
> I would think that loader.conf would be more convenient as changing hardware
> wuld not require a rebuild of the kernel. Is there a draw back to loading
> devices this way other than a longer boot up time (which should not be an
> issue as the system is 24-7)?

There is little difference for your purposes.

> I have also heard that loading modules through the loader.conf saves on RAM
> performance as the module in question is not loaded into memory until it is
> used as opposed to being loaded with the kernel. If this makes no sense, i
> appologize. I remember reading it somewhere on a mailing list several years
> ago and can't find the reference anymore. From memory it stated modules such
> as cd9660 could be loaded through entering CD9660_load="YES" in
> loader.confand that it would not be used in memory until a cd was
> mounted. I am
> assuming this is true (if it is) for other modules as well.

It isn't true at all.  Loading a module really does load it into memory.

-- 
Lowell Gilbert, embedded/networking software engineer, Boston area
		http://be-well.ilk.org/~lowell/