Just one aspect of a highly optimized and stripped kernel is the size of it. My 2.2.19 smp kernel on my Debian Potato hlds server is pretty small:
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 596926 Mar 4 2002 vmlinuz-2.2.19 Just a hair under 600KB. AFAIK, that's a pretty small kernel. I stripped out everything possible, optimized for P6 arch, and compiled all the necessary drivers (ATA, NIC) into the kernel--NOT as modules. I have no loadable modules at all. I don't run with iptables support, as this machine is behind another firewall. I did the original install of Potato onto this box via boot disk and Debian mirrors. I chose the "compact install", which includes a lot of driver modules and what not to make installation easier, but not nearly as many modules as a desktop install. By optimizing the "compact install" even further, as I did, I cut the kernel size almost in half: -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 1052048 Mar 3 2002 vmlinuz-2.2.19-compact StanTheMan TheHardwareFreak http://www.hardwarefreak.com rcon admin at: Beer for Breakfast servers <http://bfb.bogleg.org/> 209.41.98.2:27016 (CS multi-map) 209.41.98.2:27015 (DoD) 209.41.98.2:27017 (CS militia/dust2) Dallas, TX > -----Original Message----- > From: TrIaX [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Saturday, September 07, 2002 5:59 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [hlds_linux] Streamline linux, deticated hlds_l server > > > Rob Sanders wrote: > > > When I compile the kernel, are there any steps I should > take to insure > > that its as trim as possible? I've done some searching, > but mostly I've > > found guides to writing code for the kernel and not so much > I'm new and > > stupid guides. Will gentoo walk me thru it? I'm not one > to assume that > > that and go blindly into the night. Is the reason I cant > find a guide is > > that its that simple? Curse Redhat for being so easy ;) > > Essentially, when you are compiling a new kernel, a general rule of > thumb would be to compile only those things that you absolutely need > into the core kernel, and compile everything that you think you might > need as a module that can be loaded/unloaded as needed. So go through > the kernel configuration (If you want to do it all by hand, I > recommend > using the 'make menuconfig' option for configuring your > kernel) and turn > everything off that you don't need, paying attention to look at > everything to make sure that the default isn't on. IIRC, > some examples > of this would be the SYMBIOS SCSI drivers, and the USB > drivers. Unless > you have a Symbios controller, you probably don't need that > enabled, and > if it's a server, you probably don't need the USB drivers either > (infact, on my servers i even strip out all mouse support, but that's > because I'm probably insane). > > > What services and programs will help me along the way? This machine > > will only be serving multiple instances of hlds, nothing > else. I expect > > ssh, ftp, but what else has shown to be handy in a pinch? Possibly > > installing something like iptraf so I can monitor > bandwidth? Firewalls > > an issue? I can't see into the future, so any personal > recomendations > > would be helpfull. I want to keep the entire install as > trim and speed orientated > > as possible. > > IMHO, ditch FTP unless you have users who need it. If you need to get > files onto your machine, use SCP instead, it's more secure, > and it's one > daemon running instead of two. For firewalling, use IPTables, which > also gives you the benefit of being able to setup IP > accounting as part > of it, removing the need for additional programs to track your > bandwidth. For the trimmest possible machine, nothing should > be running > but the core system stuff, sshd, and hlds_l, and your kernel should be > stripped down to the minimal possible configuration and compiled for > your CPU architecture. For the best security, everything should be > firewalled but your SSH TCP port, and your HLDS_L's UDP ports. > > One other recommendation I have that is oft overlooked. Use the nice > command when running HLDS_L and adjust the servers priority for CPU > attention up. I usually run my servers with a nice adjustment of -15, > giving it priority for CPU attention over just about every other piece > of software running except the kernel. > > Your milage may vary. :) > > Sincerely, TrIaX > > _______________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list > archives, please visit: > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds_linux > _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds_linux
