Re: kernel-compiling, when should components be compiled as modules?

[Jimmy Richards <linuxrh@home.com>]

Hi Bryan,

	The main advantage is the when you compile something as a module it does not 
take up any memory unless it gets loaded by the kernel. If you compile 
something into the kernel then it gets loaded into memory as part of the 
kernel since it is part of the kernel. For instance, you could have 15 things 
as modules and when you boot into linux only five of them are loaded because 
they are needed. The other 10 wait until you need them. If you load up a vfat 
module, it then takes up some memory. If you never call upon the vfat module, 
that much less memory is taken up by kernel code. A smaller kernel memory 
footprint if you will, is the advantage. Some kernel modules/drivers may take 
up some resources other than just memory too.

Hope that helps explain it a little,

Jimmy Richards


On Monday 02 April 2001 14:12, Bryan Walton wrote:
> I am sure that there are many different ideas on this topic, and would like
> to here people's thoughts.  When compiling kernels, I can compile many
> things into the kernel.  But I often have the option to compile many things
> as a module.
> 	What are the pros and cons of compiling things as modules?  Should I
> stay away from that?  Should I always compile as a module if the option is
> available?  Ideas?
>
> Thanks,
> Bryan Walton