Arch Linux

Leonid.I

Member

From: Aethyr

Registered: 2009-03-22

Posts: 999

Custom kernel: compatibility issues?

Hi,

   After having read all the bug reports about new 2.6.31 kernel series, related to the ATI KMS (I have ati radeon xpress 200m), and also because it's , I decided to brew something like Arch-based Slackware. Namely, keep compiling vanilla 2.6.30 kernels, untill 2.6.31 is mature enough and the new Xorg-server appears in /extra.
   But the thing, which I am not understanding is whether it's OK to keep updating the core system, like iptables, coreutils, etc..., while keeping the old kernel (I guess, iptables now support 2.6.31?). So..., is it?

Thanx,
L.
PS: there is 2.6.27-lts kernel in the /core, maybe I'll stick to it for a time being, but the question remains...

---

Arch Linux is more than just GNU/Linux -- it's an adventure
pkill -9 systemd

ASOM

Member

Registered: 2009-07-10

Posts: 68

Re: Custom kernel: compatibility issues?

I pretty much just leave a kernel that works well in place, until forced to do so or I need something offered in a newer kernel. My main rig runs a 2.6.29 kernel and I have 1 up to date system running a 2.6.23 kernel. Only issue I have ever had running an older kernel is having to run a set of older video drivers.

tavianator

Member

From: Waterloo, ON, Canada

Registered: 2007-08-21

Posts: 859

Website

Re: Custom kernel: compatibility issues?

Considering Arch supports the kerner26-lts kernel (which I think is a 2.6.29 release), it should be fine to update other things while holding the kernel version back.

gog

Member

Registered: 2009-10-13

Posts: 103

Re: Custom kernel: compatibility issues?

A possibly better solution would be to use 31 sans kms.

I never understood why half of this years commits (or so it seemed) where kms related. It doesn't directly add new functionality. Sure, it's convenient not having to edit xorg.conf for the nth time but at this point it's too little to late

Last edited by gog (2009-10-19 19:33:06)

Vamp898

Member

Registered: 2009-01-03

Posts: 1,032

Website

Re: Custom kernel: compatibility issues?

Considering Arch supports the kerner26-lts kernel (which I think is a 2.6.29 release), it should be fine to update other things while holding the kernel version back.

2.6.27 a bit old as i think^^

Last edited by Vamp898 (2009-10-20 01:37:22)

Leonid.I

Member

From: Aethyr

Registered: 2009-03-22

Posts: 999

Re: Custom kernel: compatibility issues?

Considering Arch supports the kerner26-lts kernel (which I think is a 2.6.29 release), it should be fine to update other things while holding the kernel version back.

2.6.27 a bit old as i think^^

Yeah, I agree, it's just like Debian Lenny . That's the reason why I was thinking about 2.6.30, and that's what I'm going to try next, as long as I get to my main workstation...

About KMS, there might be something to it, as it should allow running X without root privileges (at least that's what they say and that's why OpenBSD project is interested in it), but given the fact that my graphics card is not fully supported by x86free-ati driver, I guess KMS is not going to add to the stability of my system...

Thanks guys!

---

Arch Linux is more than just GNU/Linux -- it's an adventure
pkill -9 systemd

Leonid.I

Member

From: Aethyr

Registered: 2009-03-22

Posts: 999

Re: Custom kernel: compatibility issues?

I pretty much just leave a kernel that works well in place, until forced to do so or I need something offered in a newer kernel. My main rig runs a 2.6.29 kernel and I have 1 up to date system running a 2.6.23 kernel. Only issue I have ever had running an older kernel is having to run a set of older video drivers.

BTW, are you sure it's a good idea to keep old kernels unupdated? I mean, Arch does not receive security updates...

---

Arch Linux is more than just GNU/Linux -- it's an adventure
pkill -9 systemd

ASOM

Member

Registered: 2009-07-10

Posts: 68

Re: Custom kernel: compatibility issues?

I pretty much just leave a kernel that works well in place, until forced to do so or I need something offered in a newer kernel. My main rig runs a 2.6.29 kernel and I have 1 up to date system running a 2.6.23 kernel. Only issue I have ever had running an older kernel is having to run a set of older video drivers.

BTW, are you sure it's a good idea to keep old kernels unupdated? I mean, Arch does not receive security updates...

Yes I am comfortable with it. Every version has exploitable bugs so until they figure out how to build a perfect kernel I figure I'm just as safe as anyone out there.

That rig has been running for nearly two years like that with 2 reboots. Outside of a couple of half-hearted attempts to get in there has been zero issues.

Alot of the time I am more comfortable with older software, I know where it is lacking and can take steps.

Last edited by ASOM (2009-10-20 21:36:44)