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In-Reply-To: <20111115062115.GA3262@waltdnes.org>
References: <20111115062115.GA3262@waltdnes.org>
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:44:58 +0700
Message-ID: <CAA2qdGUggtEW4Hc18GHDTTU7-XqVgEGfAws8YJwnaiHTmz4Ojg@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] Anybody want to beta test Gentoo with mdev instead
of udev?
From: Pandu Poluan <pandu@poluan.info>
To: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org
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--0015174783ec013a4d04b1c12a32
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On Nov 15, 2011 1:24 PM, <waltdnes@waltdnes.org> wrote:
>
> After a recent thread, about udev developers wanting /usr on the same
> partition as / (or else requiring initramfs), it was pretty obvious
> that 90%+ of the users here strongly disliked the idea. I went around
> asking on various lists if it was possible to run Gentoo without udev.
> After some research, and various unrelated delays, I've come up with a
> working Gentoo without udev. It turns out that busybox's mdev
> implementation is sufficient for my needs. I do the usual email, web
> surfing, including Youtube. I'm listening to Live365.com as I type this
> email, so Flash works just fine. Contrary to the FUD I've heard, X
> works just fine, thank you, without an xorg.conf. Modern flatscreens
> with EDID info are set up automatically. I suppose that old CRT
> monitors without EDID info might require xorg.conf, but that's "exotic
> hardware" nowadays. The only change I notice is somewhat faster bootup.
>
> The purpose of this email is to ask adventurous people here to beta
> test my approach to a udev-less Gentoo. If we don't find any
> showstopper problems, we can think about requesting Gentoo developers to
> support an mdev-based profile. It would help the cause if a large
> number of testers can report that it works for them. The instructions
> for a udev-ectomy follow below. Thanks to Zac Medico and others on the
> Gentoo developers' list for their helpful hints and pointers on how to
> do this. I couldn't have figured this out by myself.
>
> The usual warnings apply...
> * this is a beta
> * use a spare test machine
> * if you don't follow the instructions correctly, the result might be
> an unbootable linux
> * even if you do follow instructions, the result might be an unbootable
> linux
>
>
> 1) Set up your kernel to support and automount a devtmpfs filesystem at
> /dev
>
> * If you prefer to edit .config directly, set
> CONFIG_DEVTMPFS=y and CONFIG_DEVTMPFS_MOUNT=y
>
> * If you prefer "make menuconfig", the route is as shown below. Note
> that the "Autount devtmpfs..." option won't appear until you enable
> "Maintain a devtmpf..." option.
>
> make menuconfig
> Device Drivers --->
> Generic Driver Options --->
> [*] Maintain a devtmpfs filesystem to mount at /dev
> [*] Automount devtmpfs at /dev, after the kernel mounted the rootfs
>
> Once you've made the changes, rebuild the kernel.
>
>
> 2) Set up for emerging busybox, there are 2 items to change
>
> A) It appears that there may be an mdev bug in older versions of
> busybox. To avoid that bug, keyword busybox-1.19.2 in
> /etc/portage/package.keywords E.g. if you're using 32-bit Gentoo on
> Intel, the incantation is...
>
> =sys-apps/busybox-1.19.2 ~x86
>
> Change the "~x86" to reflect your architecture, etc.
>
> B) busybox requires the "mdev" flag in this situation. The "static"
> flag is probably also a good idea. In file /etc/portage/package.use
> add the line
>
> sys-apps/busybox static mdev
>
> Now, "emerge busybox"
>
>
> 3) In the bootloader append line, include "init=/sbin/linuxrc" where
> the file /sbin/linuxrc consists of *AT LEAST*...
>
> #!/sbin/busybox ash
> mount -t proc proc /proc
> mount -t sysfs sysfs /sys
> exec /sbin/init
>
> This should be enough for most users. If you have an unusual setup,
> you may need additional stuff in there. If you're using lilo remember
> to re-run lilo to implement the changes.
>
> 4) Remove udev from the services list, and replace it with mdev. Type
> the following 2 commands at the command line
> rc-update del udev sysinit
> rc-update add mdev sysinit
>
>
> 5) reboot to your new kernel. You're now running without using udev.
>
>
> 6) ***THIS STEP IS OPTIONAL*** This is only to alay any suspicion that
> udev is still in use. udev is pulled in by virtual/dev-manager,
> which in turn is pulled in by the kernel.
> * cd /usr/portage/virtual/dev-manager
> * Make a backup copy of dev-manager-0.ebuild
> * Edit dev-manager-0.ebuild to include "sys-apps/busybox" as one option
> in RDEPEND, like so...
>
> RDEPEND="|| ( sys-fs/udev
> sys-fs/devfsd
> sys-apps/busybox
> sys-fs/static-dev
> sys-freebsd/freebsd-sbin )"
>
> I had really wanted to use "sys-apps/busybox[mdev]", but an EAPI-0
> ebuild can't handle that syntax.
>
> * execute the following 3 commands at the commandline
> ebuild dev-manager-0.ebuild digest
> emerge -1 dev-manager
> emerge --unmerge sys-fs/udev
>
> * In file /atc/portage/package.mask, append the line
> sys-fs/udev
> Create the file if it doesn't already exist. You now have a totally
> udev-free machine
>
Sounds nice!
However, my Gentoo systems are all virtual servers (DomU VMs on XenServer).
So, the hardware devices are static. Will switching over to mdev give any
benefits?
I even am toying around with the idea of having a completely static /dev,
but still can't find any guide/pointers yet.
(Apologies if my email is OOT)
Rgds,
--0015174783ec013a4d04b1c12a32
Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<p><br>
On Nov 15, 2011 1:24 PM, <<a href=3D"mailto:waltdnes@waltdnes.org">waltd=
nes@waltdnes.org</a>> wrote:<br>
><br>
> =C2=A0After a recent thread, about udev developers wanting /usr on the=
same<br>
> partition as / (or else requiring initramfs), it was pretty obvious<br=
>
> that 90%+ of the users here strongly disliked the idea. =C2=A0I went a=
round<br>
> asking on various lists if it was possible to run Gentoo without udev.=
<br>
> After some research, and various unrelated delays, I've come up wi=
th a<br>
> working Gentoo without udev. =C2=A0It turns out that busybox's mde=
v<br>
> implementation is sufficient for my needs. =C2=A0I do the usual email,=
web<br>
> surfing, including Youtube. =C2=A0I'm listening to Live365.com as =
I type this<br>
> email, so Flash works just fine. =C2=A0Contrary to the FUD I've he=
ard, X<br>
> works just fine, thank you, without an xorg.conf. =C2=A0Modern flatscr=
eens<br>
> with EDID info are set up automatically. =C2=A0I suppose that old CRT<=
br>
> monitors without EDID info might require xorg.conf, but that's &qu=
ot;exotic<br>
> hardware" nowadays. =C2=A0The only change I notice is somewhat fa=
ster bootup.<br>
><br>
> =C2=A0The purpose of this email is to ask adventurous people here to b=
eta<br>
> test my approach to a udev-less Gentoo. =C2=A0If we don't find any=
<br>
> showstopper problems, we can think about requesting Gentoo developers =
to<br>
> support an mdev-based profile. =C2=A0It would help the cause if a larg=
e<br>
> number of testers can report that it works for them. =C2=A0The instruc=
tions<br>
> for a udev-ectomy follow below. =C2=A0Thanks to Zac Medico and others =
on the<br>
> Gentoo developers' list for their helpful hints and pointers on ho=
w to<br>
> do this. =C2=A0I couldn't have figured this out by myself.<br>
><br>
> =C2=A0The usual warnings apply...<br>
> * this is a beta<br>
> * use a spare test machine<br>
> * if you don't follow the instructions correctly, the result might=
be<br>
> =C2=A0an unbootable linux<br>
> * even if you do follow instructions, the result might be an unbootabl=
e<br>
> =C2=A0linux<br>
><br>
><br>
> 1) Set up your kernel to support and automount a devtmpfs filesystem a=
t<br>
> =C2=A0 /dev<br>
><br>
> * If you prefer to edit .config directly, set<br>
> =C2=A0CONFIG_DEVTMPFS=3Dy and CONFIG_DEVTMPFS_MOUNT=3Dy<br>
><br>
> * If you prefer "make menuconfig", the route is as shown bel=
ow. =C2=A0Note<br>
> =C2=A0that the "Autount devtmpfs..." option won't appear=
until you enable<br>
> =C2=A0"Maintain a devtmpf..." option.<br>
><br>
> make menuconfig<br>
> =C2=A0Device Drivers =C2=A0---><br>
> =C2=A0 =C2=A0Generic Driver Options =C2=A0---><br>
> =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0[*] Maintain a devtmpfs filesystem to mount at /de=
v<br>
> =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0[*] =C2=A0 Automount devtmpfs at /dev, after the k=
ernel mounted the rootfs<br>
><br>
> =C2=A0Once you've made the changes, rebuild the kernel.<br>
><br>
><br>
> 2) Set up for emerging busybox, there are 2 items to change<br>
><br>
> A) It appears that there may be an mdev bug in older versions of<br>
> =C2=A0 busybox. =C2=A0To avoid that bug, keyword busybox-1.19.2 in<br>
> =C2=A0 /etc/portage/package.keywords =C2=A0E.g. if you're using 32=
-bit Gentoo on<br>
> =C2=A0 Intel, the incantation is...<br>
><br>
> =3Dsys-apps/busybox-1.19.2 ~x86<br>
><br>
> =C2=A0 Change the "~x86" to reflect your architecture, etc.<=
br>
><br>
> B) busybox requires the "mdev" flag in this situation. =C2=
=A0The "static"<br>
> flag is probably also a good idea. =C2=A0In file /etc/portage/package.=
use<br>
> add the line<br>
><br>
> sys-apps/busybox static mdev<br>
><br>
> =C2=A0 Now, "emerge busybox"<br>
><br>
><br>
> 3) In the bootloader append line, include "init=3D/sbin/linuxrc&q=
uot; where<br>
> =C2=A0 the file /sbin/linuxrc consists of *AT LEAST*...<br>
><br>
> #!/sbin/busybox ash<br>
> mount -t proc proc /proc<br>
> mount -t sysfs sysfs /sys<br>
> exec /sbin/init<br>
><br>
> =C2=A0 This should be enough for most users. =C2=A0If you have an unus=
ual setup,<br>
> =C2=A0 you may need additional stuff in there. =C2=A0If you're usi=
ng lilo remember<br>
> =C2=A0 to re-run lilo to implement the changes.<br>
><br>
> 4) Remove udev from the services list, and replace it with mdev. =C2=
=A0Type<br>
> =C2=A0 the following 2 commands at the command line<br>
> rc-update del udev sysinit<br>
> rc-update add mdev sysinit<br>
><br>
><br>
> 5) reboot to your new kernel. =C2=A0You're now running without usi=
ng udev.<br>
><br>
><br>
> 6) ***THIS STEP IS OPTIONAL*** =C2=A0This is only to alay any suspicio=
n that<br>
> =C2=A0 udev is still in use. =C2=A0udev is pulled in by virtual/dev-ma=
nager,<br>
> =C2=A0 which in turn is pulled in by the kernel.<br>
> * cd /usr/portage/virtual/dev-manager<br>
> * Make a backup copy of dev-manager-0.ebuild<br>
> * Edit dev-manager-0.ebuild to include "sys-apps/busybox" as=
one option<br>
> =C2=A0in RDEPEND, like so...<br>
><br>
> RDEPEND=3D"|| ( sys-fs/udev<br>
> =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0sys-fs/devfsd<b=
r>
> =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0sys-apps/busybo=
x<br>
> =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0sys-fs/static-d=
ev<br>
> =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0sys-freebsd/fre=
ebsd-sbin )"<br>
><br>
> =C2=A0I had really wanted to use "sys-apps/busybox[mdev]", b=
ut an EAPI-0<br>
> =C2=A0ebuild can't handle that syntax.<br>
><br>
> * execute the following 3 commands at the commandline<br>
> ebuild dev-manager-0.ebuild digest<br>
> emerge -1 dev-manager<br>
> emerge --unmerge sys-fs/udev<br>
><br>
> * In file /atc/portage/package.mask, append the line<br>
> sys-fs/udev<br>
> =C2=A0Create the file if it doesn't already exist. =C2=A0You now h=
ave a totally<br>
> =C2=A0udev-free machine<br>
></p>
<p>Sounds nice!</p>
<p>However, my Gentoo systems are all virtual servers (DomU VMs on XenServe=
r). So, the hardware devices are static. Will switching over to mdev give a=
ny benefits?</p>
<p>I even am toying around with the idea of having a completely static /dev=
, but still can't find any guide/pointers yet.</p>
<p>(Apologies if my email is OOT)</p>
<p>Rgds,<br>
</p>
--0015174783ec013a4d04b1c12a32--