Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:12:26 +0000 From: Matthew Seaman <m.seaman@infracaninophile.co.uk> To: David Naylor <naylor.b.david@gmail.com> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Monolithic vs Modular Kernel? Message-ID: <4B20BB7A.7050502@infracaninophile.co.uk> In-Reply-To: <200912100939.07116.naylor.b.david@gmail.com> References: <200912100939.07116.naylor.b.david@gmail.com>
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David Naylor wrote:
> Hi,
>=20
> What are the pros and cons of building a stripped down kernel and loadi=
ng all=20
> the missing parts via modules (such that you end up with the same=20
> functionality as generic kernel) vs having a kernel with all the module=
s built=20
> in?=20
Flexibility mainly. The default kernel is pretty highly modularized nowa=
days,
meaning that it doesn't need to be enormous but can still support most ha=
rdware
encountered in the field. Even so, it still contains some wired-in code =
to=20
support certain classes of functionality that will not be necessary on al=
l=20
systems. =20
In general, there's not a huge benefit compared to the inconvenience to b=
e gained=20
from aggressively stripping down your kernel nowadays, unless you have a =
particular need for a really minimal system.
> Also, is there anyway to detect if there are hardware without drivers (=
such as=20
> a sound card without any snd_ loaded) and to detect the type of device =
(e.g.=20
> network, usb, sound, graphics)?
Running:
# pciconf -lv
will show up any devices on the PCI busses without any attached drivers.
Similarly usbconfig(8) will tell you all about attached USB busses and de=
vices.
> Lastly, is there any way to determine what 'modules' a kernel is build =
with?
Examine the kernel configuration file. If you don't have access to this,=
you
might be able to extract it from the kernel image if it has been built wi=
th
options INCLUDE_CONFIG_FILE
however, AFAIK this isn't the default for GENERIC kernels.=20
Cheers,
Matthew
--=20
Dr Matthew J Seaman MA, D.Phil. Flat 3
7 Priory Courtyard
PGP: http://www.infracaninophile.co.uk/pgpkey Ramsgate
Kent, CT11 9PW, UK
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