Re: [gentoo-user] Re: decrapify your kernel config

[Alan McKinnon <alan.mckinnon@gmail.com>]

On Wednesday 18 November 2009 01:16:04 Stefan G. Weichinger wrote:
> Volker Armin Hemmann schrieb:
> > Namespaces - you don't need it? Kick 'em out.
> 
> hmm, interesting ... ;-)
> 
> for sure I also want to decrapify my kernel-config ...
> 
> To disable namespaces I would have to set CONFIG_EMBEDDED=y ... correct?
> 
> This is rather counterintuitive to me, as my main workstation is far
> from an embedded or small system (ok, not compared to the
> 4096-cpu-clusters in http://xkcd.com/619/ , but compared to, for
> example, my embedded ALIX-PC I use as fw/router/something ...).
> 
> So you suggest I set CONFIG_EMBEDDED=y and in turn get several new
> options/defaults to choose and get right or wrong ... ?
> 
> ;-)
> 
> I am quite sure to have at least *some* crap in my config as I tend to
> always do something like
> 
> zcat /proc/config.gz >> /usr/src/linux-new-shiny-version/.config
> make oldconfig
> 
> ....
> 
> This gives me expected results and a "it boots OK" experience, getting
> rid of unused crap is another issue, yes.
> 
> I wonder which EMBEDDED options would help me ...

Likely none of them.

The embedded menu is the most counter-intuitive thing in the whole kernel 
config. It does not supply a list of things you may enable, instead it 
activates a menu that allows you to switch stuff OFF that is normally ON.

The rationale is that embedded devices need to get by on a very slim kernel 
and with some magic trickery they can successfully disable some features that 
are usually considered perfectly normal for regular desktop use.

For example: CONFIG_HOTPLUG. It's unthinkable to remove this for a desktop, 
but does your TomTom need it? Does a GPS even have hotplug facilities? How 
about ADSL router/modems?

To disable namespace, enable embedded, leave everything on, and you will find 
you can now disable namespaces.


-- 
alan dot mckinnon at gmail dot com