Re: linux-image-2.6.28-1-amd64 is _huuuuge_

[Miles Bader <miles@gnu.org>]

I previously wrote:
> Previous debian kernel packages were kind of big but the recent
> packaging of 2.6.28 is _much_ bigger --
>
>    $ apt-cache show linux-image-2.6.28-1-amd64 |grep Installed-Size
>    Installed-Size: 220644
>    $ apt-cache show linux-image-2.6.26-1-amd64 |grep Installed-Size
>    Installed-Size: 80592

Something very suspicious about those sizes too: the size of the .debs
for those versions is actually more or less the same, seeming to only
reflect the sort of natural growth you'd expect with the version bump:

   $ apt-cache show linux-image-2.6.28-1-amd64 |grep ^Size
   Size: 24516938
   $ apt-cache show linux-image-2.6.26-1-amd64 |grep ^Size
   Size: 20898372

[I've also packaged a self-compiled 2.6.28 kernel, using the debian
2.6.26 config as a starting point, and the unpacked size was roughly the
same as the debian packaged 2.6.26 kernel.]

So does this new kernel package contain a few huge files containing
nothing but zeroes or something ...?

Thanks,

-Miles

-- 
Rational, adj. Devoid of all delusions save those of observation, experience
and reflection.