On Tue, Sep 28, 1999 at 05:19:24PM -0400, Fraser Campbell wrote: > I realize the kernel is a very special piece of software but still see no > reason why it is treated differently from normal software. Perhaps the > upgrade process depends on the virtual package kernel-image which I don't > seem to have installed?
On most normal machines, I can see your point. However, there are many machines where things are wierd, wild, wacky, and the kernel-builder needs to take special effort to get the kernel to work on their machine. Another reason why it shouldn't be replaced with every apt-get upgrade is that software can only be replaced when it is not running. The kernel will never not be running -- so it takes effect at reboot. I *HATE* changing things that affect the booting process and then waiting a while to reboot; if something I did broke the boot process, I am not sure I would remember it three weeks down the road, when the power goes out and I have to turn the machine off since UPS only last so long.. :) Kernels are just too special to do this. *MAYBE* the hurd will have this option. Maybe it does already. <shrug> -- Seth Arnold | http://www.willamette.edu/~sarnold/ Hate spam? See http://maps.vix.com/rbl/ for help Hi! I'm a .signature virus! Copy me into your ~/.signature to help me spread!