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In linux.gentoo.user, you wrote: |
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> |
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> I've been using Gentoo for quite a long time, and today I decided to try |
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> compiling the kernel myself, Thing I've never done before. I want a smaller |
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> kernel, a faster boot (without initramfs) and, of course, some fun :). |
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Good for you. I've rolled my own kernels for around 15 years, but I |
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still use genkernel to build me an initramfs. I require the initramfs |
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because: |
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a) I've got my root filesystem on an LVM partition. |
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b) I've got my /usr directory on a separate partition. This is not a |
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problem, yet, but the udev update is coming! |
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c) I like a fancy boot splash screen during early boot. |
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I'm not that fond of using genkernel to build my initramfs, but it |
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works. I'll probably switch to dracut when it becomes more stable. |
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> I'm still reading the oficial documentation, but I don't think it will be |
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> enough, so, if anyone of you know some documentation more detailed, I'd |
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> appreciate reading it. |
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What do you mean by "official documentation"? Do you include the |
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information in the Documentation directory in your latest kernel? |
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Have you tried: |
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$make menuconfig |
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This gives you a good interface for configuring your kernel. If you hit |
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"/" you'll get a search function and there are "help" options for just |
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about every feature you want to include in your new kernel. |
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> I've just ran 'make xconfig', and I noticed that the configuration is the |
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> same from genkernel (genkernel --menuconfig). Is it good? Should I get an |
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> original .conf, with less garbage, or this is just the 'normal default' |
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> instead of 'genkernel default' as I'm guessing? |
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I usually start from scratch with a new machine, but in your case you |
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should be able to use your old genkernel .config file and then pare it |
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down to what you require ie what works. |
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> Is there any tool that can scan my pc and help me out with the .conf or |
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> even generate one? I guess not. There are lots of options that I have no |
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> idea what they are for. I think this will be the fun part, but I think I |
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> can't get a running kernel before I optimize it, so I can do it gradually. |
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I have had reasonable success with "lshw" (sys-apps/lshw). It generates |
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a list of the hardware on your machine. Unfortanately it won't produce a |
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.config file for you. |
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One option that makes subsequent kernels easier to produce is: |
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CONFIG_IKCONFIG |
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Kernel .config support |
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This feature provides copy of your current Kernel's .config file at |
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/proc/config.gz which you can then extract and use on your new kernel by |
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doing: |
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$ zcat /proc/config.gz > <new-kernel-directory>/.config |
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$ cd <new-kernel-directory> |
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$ make oldconfig |
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> Just for curiosity, what is the size of your kernel? Mine is 3.4 MB. |
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3.7MB |
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Yep.. it's bigger than your genkernel generated kernel... 8-) |
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Remember, the first kernel you produce on your own will take a bit of |
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effort, but subsequent kernels are easy. |
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-- |
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Regards, |
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Gregory. |
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