Quick background: got sent a link to a module that alleges support for my venerable Intel Create and Share camera, made by Konica. This would be seriously cool; CP/M 2000 doesn't even support it. insmod of the binary spat out several Video-for-Linux unresolved externals; first thought was 'ok, fine; I'll go rebuild the kernel and add VfL support - no biggie'.
Except it IS a biggie - since the kernel configuration presented by 'make xconfig' -- or even by 'make mrproper && make xconfig' - is SERIOUSLY at variance with the installed kernel. What got me comfortable initially with dinking with kernels in the first place was that when I installed Red Hat (6 2/7.0) on this same box, there were few if any surprises in 'make xconfig'; the configuration presented seemed to match the configuration actually installed closely enough that minor and other tweaks could be made with a high confidence that the new kernel would in fact work as expected. NO SUCH CONFIDENCE exists with the Mandrake 8.2 RC1 configuration. As a test, I exited without saving changes, did a 'make mrproper' just to be 'safe', then went through the whole kernel- and module-build exercise on what should reasonably be expected to match the initially installed kernel - only to lose both sound (ES1371) and ide-scsi on reboot. This might well be deemed something that need not be fixed prior to 8.2 final - but it should be fixed ASAP, else "reasonably experienced" folks who decided to try Mandrake after Red Hat or Turbolinux or any of the other distros that do this "right" will go back from whence they came - and tell all their friends and LUGmates precisely why. Mandrake is at or very near what purports to be an 8.2 release; I can't think of another software product I've used recently with anywhere near that high a version number that didn't have near-flawless fit and finish.... and that is what a great many people, I expect, will be expecting. Jeff Dickey Seven Sigma Software and Services Phone: +1 661 588 2917 Phone: +1 425 885 6280 Pager: +1 800 931 4233 Email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (preferred) Email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Home page (with résumé): http://www.seven-sigma.com/ PGP key fingerprint: 6BAC 8806 2480 BC1B 0388 2521 CB5B 552F
