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Greg KH posted <20041117183350.GB28821@×××××.com>, excerpted below, on |
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Wed, 17 Nov 2004 10:33:50 -0800: |
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>> If so, then there would be zero harm in loading modules which you do not |
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>> *always* need on a machine, such as a USB NIC, as mentioned in this |
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>> thread. |
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> |
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> Exactly. With the exception of additional memory being used, but hey, |
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> memory is cheap these days! :) |
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That's one of the things I was getting at -- the additional LOCKED kernel |
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memory required by having a module built-in or auto-loaded. Memory may be |
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cheap, but it's not FREE (OK, I see that smiley, but still don't know |
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whether the above is sarcastic or whether the smiley just means keep it |
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civil), and LOCKED memory is locked memory, that can't be swapped out for |
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something that might be more immediately useful (even if swap is enabled). |
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Additionally, anything loaded when it's not needed only means more |
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complexity and bloat, and more code that can cause a bug or be exploitable |
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in some way or another. |
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If it's a kernel module, there really IS reason to not have it loaded |
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unless it's going to be used. Whether the reasons justify the hassle |
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involved is up to the individual site admins. (Hmm.. must be that smiley |
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means sarcastic, given the position of the poster re static /dev bloat. <g>) |
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-- |
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Duncan - List replies preferred. No HTML msgs. |
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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little |
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temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- |
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Benjamin Franklin |
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