[Date Prev][Date Next] [Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index] [Thread Index]

Re: which kernel for dual opteron ???



On Wednesday 31 May 2006 14:06, helices wrote:
> > >WHICH kernel will make best use of my system?
> >
> > Of those listed, kernel-image-2.6.8-12-amd64-k8-smp. But you probably
> > don't want any of those listed.
>
> <snip />
>
> OK, I'll bite.  WHICH kernel do you recommend?  WHY?

The best kernel for your system is always one you have compiled yourself.

Get yourself some kernel sources from kernel.org, the .config file for the 
kernel you are currently using, and the output of lsmod.  Do `make oldconfig`  
{which will ask you a series of questions about any new features that were 
not in the kernel version to which your existing .config applies; you may as 
well just accept the defaults}  and then `make menuconfig`.  Enable SMP, 
hard-compile in any modules you want to be hard-compiled in, and disable 
drivers for any hardware you know you haven't got and aren't going to get in 
future.

After that you can compile your kernel with make-kpkg and install it.  Don't 
forget to run /sbin/lilo if you are using that, or whatever the alternative 
is if you are using grub.

The worst you can do if you mess up is cause your system to need booting from 
a CD.  Then you'll have to mount your system, chroot in and sort out the 
bootloader configuration.  It sounds a lot more painful than it really is.

Final piece of advice:  if you're running apache2 and PHP on a box with 
multiple processors, make even surer than usual to use the "prefork" version!

-- 
AJS



Reply to: