Re: initrd in Debian kernel-image
> the basic rule of thumb is: "if i'm likely to need it to boot or if it's > essential for what the machine is supposed to do, then it gets compiled in to > the kernel. otherwise as a module". > > craig Agree completely. In or case, we also compile in the 3ware RAID stuff, a few common NIC drivers like the cheapo NE2000 or similar so we can drop in a rubbish card if the Intel or 3com cards fail. In my experience, putting essentials built-into the kernel is wise, as they tend to have much less chance of fcsking up than modules. YMMV. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: initrd in Debian kernel-image
On Thu, Sep 30, 2004 at 12:12:30AM +1000, Donovan Baarda wrote: > > Le mercredi 29 septembre 2004 ? 12:37, Gavin Hamill ?crivait: > > > My question is... how does dpkg know that I need to load the megaraid > > > module in the initrd so the system can mount / for init to boot the > > > machine? I've looked in /etc/mkinitrd and seen the 'modules' file - > > > should I just stick 'megaraid' in there just in case? Would this cause > > > any harm if it's already been included? > [...] > The trick is getting the initrd right... Debian has /etc/mkinitrd/modules > and /etc/mkinitrd/mkinitrd.conf to tweak this... read up on the initrd-tools > package, and note that the Debian kernel-image packages depend on this > package to build their initrd images when they are installed. i find it far less hassle to build custom kernels without an initrd image. IMO, initrd is useful for a distribution kernel which has to run on lots of different machines, but is a waste of time, effort, and RAM when building a custom kernel for a specific machine. just make sure you compile the drivers you need to boot in to the kernel, and all other drivers can be either modules or compiled in (doesn't really matter). personally, i like most stuff compiled in but have non-essential stuff (sound, usb, v4l, etc) compiled as modules. i like the networking stuff compiled in - every machine i build needs networking so i see no benefit in having ipv4 or packet socket or any of the other core network stuff as modules. i usually compile various common network card drivers as modules - that way if a NIC dies, i can just replace it with whatever i have handy or can get on short notice and know that a driver module will be already on the system. the basic rule of thumb is: "if i'm likely to need it to boot or if it's essential for what the machine is supposed to do, then it gets compiled in to the kernel. otherwise as a module". craig -- craig sanders <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: initrd in Debian kernel-image
G'day, From: "Aurélien Beaujean" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [...] > Le mercredi 29 septembre 2004 à 12:37, Gavin Hamill écrivait: > > My question is... how does dpkg know that I need to load the megaraid > > module in the initrd so the system can mount / for init to boot the > > machine? I've looked in /etc/mkinitrd and seen the 'modules' file - > > should I just stick 'megaraid' in there just in case? Would this cause > > any harm if it's already been included? > > The only way to have mageraid at boot time is to include it in builtin > (not in module) in the kernel. So rebuild a 2.4.27 with the same custom > options than your old 2.4.21. Sorry.. had to correct this common misconception. This is not true! The whole point of initrd is so that kernels can load modules at boot time, so the kernel doesn't have to have anything compiled in. Provided the initrd image has the required modules included, it will work. The trick is getting the initrd right... Debian has /etc/mkinitrd/modules and /etc/mkinitrd/mkinitrd.conf to tweak this... read up on the initrd-tools package, and note that the Debian kernel-image packages depend on this package to build their initrd images when they are installed. Donovan Baardahttp://minkirri.apana.org.au/~abo/ -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: initrd in Debian kernel-image
On Wednesday 29 September 2004 13:38, Aurélien Beaujean wrote: > Hi, > The only way to have mageraid at boot time is to include it in builtin > (not in module) in the kernel. So rebuild a 2.4.27 with the same custom > options than your old 2.4.21. That's interesting.. Since I wrote, I did some more research (yes, I should have done this before.. :) and mounted the initrd image that the postinst script generated, and in a script called /loadmodules it clearly states "modprobe -k megaraid" ... I have no idea how it got there, even tracing the bash source code of mkinitrd through, but I'll give it a go :) Cheers, gdh
Re: initrd in Debian kernel-image
Hi, Le mercredi 29 septembre 2004 à 12:37, Gavin Hamill écrivait: > My question is... how does dpkg know that I need to load the megaraid > module in the initrd so the system can mount / for init to boot the > machine? I've looked in /etc/mkinitrd and seen the 'modules' file - > should I just stick 'megaraid' in there just in case? Would this cause > any harm if it's already been included? The only way to have mageraid at boot time is to include it in builtin (not in module) in the kernel. So rebuild a 2.4.27 with the same custom options than your old 2.4.21. -- Auré -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
initrd in Debian kernel-image
Hullo. I've often wondered this but never been able to find a solution.. so here we go... I'm using a custom Debianised kernel on a Dell poweredge 1600SC with the AMI megaraid module compiled into the kernel. Also, the kernel has no module support It's still running 2.4.21 and disk performance is poor. I've been advised to upgrade to a newer kernel to take advantage of the much better megaraid modules in more recent kernels, and I was thinking of just using one of the precompiled kernels from www.backports.org. My question is... how does dpkg know that I need to load the megaraid module in the initrd so the system can mount / for init to boot the machine? I've looked in /etc/mkinitrd and seen the 'modules' file - should I just stick 'megaraid' in there just in case? Would this cause any harm if it's already been included? The last thing I want is to reboot a machine at a data centre for it to show "Panic - unable to mount rootfs" and have to involve the 'remote hands' at the data centre... Cheers, Gavin. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]