How to get the perfect list of required option of a kernel ?

Alaanor · 2016-01-14 16:05:56

Is there a way to get the perfect list of required option of a kernel ?

About option, I mean the option we can see when we do "make menuconfig" in the kernel folder.

The idea is to get the minimalist, faster kernel specified for my computer hardware and not a "generic" kernel.

I've read the wiki about kernel, more than one page, more than one time. Don't just give me a link, thanks.

ewaller · 2016-01-14 16:37:27

This used to be the go to site: http://kernel-seeds.org/ It has a decidedly Gentoo bias.
But, it looks like it is getting long in the tooth. I hope ole Pappy is okay.

The other good way to do this is to boot the stock kernel and see what modules are loaded using lsmod. From that you can figure out what is needed and what is not.
Generally, if a module supports something on an internal bus (PICe devices in general, video cards, Network Controllers, LPC, i2c/SMBus) they get built in. So do file system modules for any volume you need to boot. Also, PS/2 or HID as required for your keyboard. Remember though, that if a module is built in, you must pass any parameters for that module on the kernel command line. Loadable modules have theluxury of (a) being unloadable, and (b) can be provided with parameters at the time they are loaded. As such, it might make sense to not build in a wireless module, but load it after the system boots.

Things on the USB bus can generally be left as modules. You never know what devices you may want to attach in the future, or know what devices will be attached at every boot.

Last edited by ewaller (2016-01-14 17:42:44)

Slithery · 2016-01-14 17:51:38

On a related note...

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Modprobed-db

jasonwryan · 2016-01-14 18:15:18

Alaanor wrote:

The idea is to get the minimalist, faster kernel specified for my computer hardware and not a "generic" kernel.

This is a misconception. Your kernel may be smaller in size (so take up less room on /boot if that is an issue), but it will not be any faster...

Alaanor wrote:

I've read the wiki about kernel, more than one page, more than one time. Don't just give me a link, thanks.

Don't dictate how people can or can't help you here: it comes across as very rude. If you don't like the fact that we have an excellent wiki and it is routinely used to direct people to the appropriate resource, rather than having to type the same thing out over and over again, you can always ask somwhere else.

Trilby · 2016-01-14 18:36:27

I agree with the above that you're unlikely to make the kernel "faster".

If you are talking about boot times, then there generally is very little left to be squeezed from the kernel boot time anyways. Initrds on the other hand can often be trimmed quite a bit to have faster boot time. See here for one discussion - though note the author claims that little to no benefit is likely to be gained for boot time with that either - in my experience, there can be gains to be had there.

Alaanor · 2016-01-14 18:43:29

jasonwryan wrote:

This is a misconception. Your kernel may be smaller in size (so take up less room on /boot if that is an issue), but it will not be any faster...

Thank, I didn't noticed that ! But it's should be logic if the kernel load less module, so it's boot more faster, no ?

jasonwryan wrote:

Don't dictate how people can or can't help you here

Sure, I didn't wanted to say that, but it's always appreciated to see a small or big text with a link. Not just a link. A explanation.

I've installed the modprobed-db and apply a cron task. And I will look more about the kernel-seed.

I've found into kernel-seed this link, and it's may useful:
kmuto.jp/debian/hcl

So, how to get a faster kernel ? my kernel take 1.308s. It's maybe fast, but I'm a bit obsessed by the performance.

Thank for all answers

Last edited by Alaanor (2016-01-14 18:47:23)

V1del · 2016-01-14 20:41:51

The kernel is not going to load modules it doesn't need it won't make a difference in that regard

Last edited by V1del (2016-01-14 20:42:22)

Arch Linux

#1 2016-01-14 16:05:56

How to get the perfect list of required option of a kernel ?

#2 2016-01-14 16:37:27

Re: How to get the perfect list of required option of a kernel ?

#3 2016-01-14 17:51:38

Re: How to get the perfect list of required option of a kernel ?

#4 2016-01-14 18:15:18

Re: How to get the perfect list of required option of a kernel ?

#5 2016-01-14 18:36:27

Re: How to get the perfect list of required option of a kernel ?

#6 2016-01-14 18:43:29

Re: How to get the perfect list of required option of a kernel ?

#7 2016-01-14 20:41:51

Re: How to get the perfect list of required option of a kernel ?

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