Re: [gentoo-user] Which CD set to get
On Monday 29 September 2003 11:01, Stroller wrote: On 28 Sep 2003, at 4:32 pm, Jess Anderson wrote: I further assume I could get any of the x86-compatible CD sets and compile optimized kernels for whatever platform (in which case it seems reasonable to get the Athlon XP set). Is this correct as well? Hmmmn... dunno. I would *ass*u*me that the Gentoo installation disks which are merely _optimised_ for AlthlonXPs would allow you to install on a PentiumPro, but I wouldn't bank on it. The 686 disks will certainly allow you to compile ( optimise) for ALL i86 architectures, tho'. The packages that come on the CDs are optimized so that they will run on only that architecture or better. The best thing to do is either get a CD set for each of your architectures or (my choice) just get the lowest common denominator. As new versions become available, software will be recompiled with the optimizations you want, which will cover most of the system after a couple of months. Jason -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] Which CD set to get
On 29 Sep 2003, at 1:29 pm, Jason Stubbs wrote: On Monday 29 September 2003 11:01, Stroller wrote: Hmmmn... dunno. I would *ass*u*me that the Gentoo installation disks which are merely _optimised_ for AlthlonXPs would allow you to install on a PentiumPro, but I wouldn't bank on it. The 686 disks will certainly allow you to compile ( optimise) for ALL i86 architectures, tho'. The packages that come on the CDs are optimized so that they will run on only that architecture or better. Ah, thanks for clarifying. The best thing to do is either get a CD set for each of your architectures or (my choice) just get the lowest common denominator. As new versions become available, software will be recompiled with the optimizations you want, which will cover most of the system after a couple of months. Ah, yes! I meant to mention that. Stroller. -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] Which CD set to get
snip The verbiage about gentoo CD sets includes packages optimized for x platform. My assumption is that this means chiefly the kernel. Is that correct, or are other optimzations also involved? There are other optomizations involved also. The platform specific cd include packages such as gcc which have been compile for the Athlon XP. The kernel its self is not at all optomized and has to be compiled by you. I further assume I could get any of the x86-compatible CD sets and compile optimized kernels for whatever platform (in which case it seems reasonable to get the Athlon XP set). Is this correct as well? For the mixture of machines that you have i would suggest the base cd, and if u wanted to save time could download the platform optimized stages from the internet as needed. I'm an experienced Linux user, but not a kernal compilation whiz, so am looking at what's easiest as compared to what's best. When i switched to gentoo i was also not all that experienced in kernel complation, but you learn really quickly. I would suggest that you make note of your hardware now and check your redhat kernel for its configuration. On a side note you could save your redhat kernel config file and then use it to compile the redhat sources, which are available in portage. Happy switching -Mark -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] Which CD set to get
On 28 Sep 2003, at 4:32 pm, Jess Anderson wrote: I'm about to make the Big Switch, i.e., from RedHat [1] to Gentoo Linux... Congratulations!!! ...am just now looking for clarification about differences between the various 2-CD sets offered by the store. I haven't used any of these CDs, but looking at what it says: 2-CD set with many pre-built packages... optimized for insert architecture of your choice here. I have only 1 question: who decided that all ( only) the Mac Gentoo CDs would have pictures of girly pink flowers on them..? I have a mix of six machines on my home LAN, including a Pentium Pro, two Pentium IIIs (one a laptop), an Athlon Tbird and two Athlon XPs. All at present run RH 7.2, kept fully up to date. I think the Gentoo Linux 1.4 for i686 set would be best, then. It's optimized for P6-class (Pentium Pro/II, Celeron 266-533MHz, original Athlon) CPUs and all your machines should run those optimisations fine. The verbiage about gentoo CD sets includes packages optimized for x platform. My assumption is that this means chiefly the kernel. Is that correct, or are other optimzations also involved? I would guess that is incorrect. I would guess it means chiefly the packages (applications). If you read the installation guide at http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/gentoo-x86-install.xml you'll see that compiling the kernel is part of the standard Gentoo install. I'm not so familiar with these CDs as the download editions of Gentoo, but the stuff that these CDs are best known for is the pre-compiled binaries of GDE, Knome, OpenOffice c c. These take FAR longer to compile than the kernel does, so I would imagine that it is the former that are optimised, rather than the latter. http://www.freehackers.org/gentoo/gccflags/flag_gcc3.html (and I daresay `man gcc`) hints at the sort of optimisatons that Gentoo / Portage is principally about (alongside optional run-time functionality) when compiling applications. http://article.gmane.org/gmane.linux.gentoo.devel/7882 http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic.php?t=24849 suggest that little opimisation will take place when compiling the kernel (although there is a section in `make menuconfig` to choose a processor - I don't know what difference it makes). I further assume I could get any of the x86-compatible CD sets and compile optimized kernels for whatever platform (in which case it seems reasonable to get the Athlon XP set). Is this correct as well? Hmmmn... dunno. I would *ass*u*me that the Gentoo installation disks which are merely _optimised_ for AlthlonXPs would allow you to install on a PentiumPro, but I wouldn't bank on it. The 686 disks will certainly allow you to compile ( optimise) for ALL i86 architectures, tho'. I'm an experienced Linux user, but not a kernal compilation whiz, so am looking at what's easiest as compared to what's best. Stage 3 x86 on all machines, optimised CFLAGS USE flags on each one, `make dep make clean bzImage modules modules_install /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage /boot`, don't forget stuff with grub /etc/fstab, reboot then `emerge sync emerge -up world` leave 'em all compiling for a week or so (it saves on heating bills). HTH, Stroller. -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list
