Re: Bits from the kernel team
Hi,
Now that we have a 2.6.32 kernel in unstable, can you updates us
on the various things mentioned in this mail?
For instance, as I understand it, most other distro's recently
had a release with a 2.6.31 kernel? Do you know if there are
plans to have a kernel with backported drivers, one used by
multiple distributions?
Kurt
On Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 10:54:47PM +0100, Vincent Sanders wrote:
> The Debian Kernel team recently had a series of face to face meetings
> during the Linux Plumbers Conference [1].
>
> The DPL managed to arrange for the whole team to be present in Oregon
> at the same time, a representative of the release team was also present.
>
> The LPC conference venue allowed the kernel team to interact with the
> upstream developers and other distributions kernel teams in an
> positive and productive way.
>
> The Debian kernel team meetings ran over four days and covered a large
> number of topics, the abridged minutes are presented here, the full
> meeting minutes are also available [2].
>
>
> Co-operation and version synchronisation with other distributions
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
>
> This discussion involved timing of the Debian freeze and what
> implications this might have on the kernel version selected for
> squeeze. The version selected by other distributions was also
> discussed.
>
> In conclusion the 2.6.32 release will probably be the initial kernel
> version shipped with squeeze.
>
> Separate firmware, what is left to do?
> --------------------------------------
>
> A constructive discussion was held about the outstanding firmware
> issues, how the team addresses them and how we might work with upstream
> to address our DSFG issues with kernel sources.
>
> Kernel Mode Setting transition
> ------------------------------
>
> It was resolved that KMS will be enabled at build time but disabled at
> run time by default. The X packages will be able to use modprobe
> config files to enable KMS at run time as required.
>
> Feature patches
> ---------------
>
> These are patches the Debian kernels have for major features which are
> not upstream.
>
> openvz
> ++++++
>
> Debian will continue to support this system with assistance from the
> openvz developers.
>
> rt patchset
> +++++++++++
>
> This is apparently not ready for production use and will not be
> present in Debian kernels.
>
> vserver
> +++++++
>
> This feature will be present in squeeze but will be marked as
> deprecated and a migration path to Linux containers investigated.
>
> xen dom 0
> +++++++++
>
> This feature will be included in the squeeze kernel release subject to
> ongoing stabilisation work. The feature will be marked as deprecated
> and will not appear in future releases.
>
> IDE to libata decision
> ----------------------
>
> Debian will perform this transition using the udev packages in a
> similar way to Ubuntu. The Ubuntu developers have offered their
> assistance with this transition.
>
>
> preemption
> ----------
>
> This feature will be enabled for the squeeze release.
>
> OSS
> ---
>
> This has been a deprecated kernel interface for some time and will be
> disabled for squeeze with mechanisms put in place to deal with legacy
> users.
>
> bug triage and tagging
> ----------------------
>
> The kernel team has a large number of bugs, many of which contain
> inadequate information. The team decided that a policy for bugs and
> patches will be produced and enforced. We will also be improving the
> bug reporting by improving the reportbug usage.
>
> Moving the Debian Kernel packaging to Git
> -----------------------------------------
>
> A robust discussion happened with several views and ideas
> expressed. The final outcome was that the team as a whole favoured the
> move to git and that further investigation and implementation would
> occur.
>
> Coordination with release team and D-I
> --------------------------------------
>
> Several issues were covered the main item from this session was an
> investigation as to if udeb generation should be merged with the main
> kernel source package.
>
> Out of tree modules
> -------------------
>
> After some discussion it was resolved to remove linux-modules-extra
> and -nonfree as they are an impossible to support properly.
>
> A few modules the project really must have will be placed
> directly into the linux-2.6 source
>
> The kernel team will endorse the use of dkms as a way for out-of-tree
> module maintainers to get their modules auto-built.
>
> Leveraging upstream .deb building
> ---------------------------------
>
> This became a discussion about the general kernel packaging and how we
> might use the upstream provided facilities better. There was some
> discussion we have way too many ways to build a kernel.
>
> We will be rationalising this to two methods, an upstream merged "make
> deb-pkg" target and the linux-2.6 Debian source.
>
> We will also be rationalising the kernel postinst and co-ordinating
> our efforts with the Ubuntu developers.
>
> New lists to co-ordinate
> ------------------------
>
> There is a mailing list which we might resurrect for general
> distribution co-ordination
>
> kernel-packagers@vger.org
>
> And a list the Debian kernel team might want to join to co-ordinate with Ubuntu
>
> kernel-team@lists.ubuntu.com
>
> Debug Packages
> --------------
>
> This refers to debugging information from current packages, not a
> separate configuration, useful for crash tools. This will be
> investigated further.
>
> Automated build and test
> ------------------------
>
> This might be a useful tool in the future and work is ongoing.
>
> Experimental
> ------------
>
> Some upload experimental uploads of the 2.6.31 version will be made.
>
>
> [1] http://linuxplumbersconf.org/2009/
> [2] http://lists.debian.org/debian-kernel/2009/10/msg00613.html
>
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