Reducing the need to compile a custom kernel

[Marek 'Buki' Kozlovský]

On Fri, Feb 10, 2012 at 02:56:04PM +0100, Alexander Leidinger wrote:
> 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?

I need (not on every machine, granted) IPSEC and MROUTING

> 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

Buki
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