Arch Linux

markp1989

Member

Registered: 2008-10-05

Posts: 431

compile kernel without a initial ram disk

im looking to recompile the kernel, to speed up boot time, i have a list of modules that i need.

theses are currently being loaded from rc.conf

sis-agp sis5513 snd-intel8x0 ohci_hcd ehci-hcd sata_sis nvidia psmouse r8169 slhc

and these are the modules and hooks that are in the initial ram disk

 HOOKS="base udev sata"
MODULES="ata_generic sata_sis ext2"

would some one be willing to give me a quick crash course in kernel compilation?

thanks markp1989

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Dheart

Member

From: Sofia, Bulgaria

Registered: 2006-10-26

Posts: 956

Re: compile kernel without a initial ram disk

What do you want to do? You want to build those modules into the kernel so that they'd not need to be loaded, right?

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broch

Banned

From: L.A. California

Registered: 2006-11-13

Posts: 975

Re: compile kernel without a initial ram disk

this is pretty easy:
1) always keep a copy of working kernel
2) if you just want to learn, use default Arch kernel config as a starting template
3) make sure that disk controller and fs (you are using) are build in
4) you can leave the rest as modules, if custom kernel will boot, however some function will be missing, you can always later build devices into kernel. On the other hand, some devices can impact boot time if build as modules (.. or build in the kernel) this you will need to test
5) personally, I think that building kernel from sources (www.kernel.org) is more flexible and easier, but you may try both methods to see which suits you better.