Re: [gentoo-user] which kernel ??? 2.4 or 2.6

[Collins Richey <crichey@gmail.com>]

On Mon, 06 Dec 2004 18:09:20 +0100, pat <pat@xvalheru.org> wrote:
> Hi All,
> 
> I have question. Which kernel is better 2.4 or 2.6 ??? I want to install
> Gentoo 2004.3 and I'm new to Gentoo.

There isn't a simple answer to that question. 2.6 has new features and
may break a very few components. 2.4 works just fine.

If you want to start with 2.6, there is a separate bootstrap26.sh
procedure for doing that from a stage1 install. There could be some
problems. Check forums or this list archives for more information.

OTOH, as a new user, you may want to stick with the standard 2.4
instructions and reserve building a 2.6 kernel for a later date after
you have a running system and after you have become more familiar with
gentoo. Gentoo has not yet switched over to 2.6 for the standad
install.

I'm not trying to discourage you, and I did indeed install a 2.6
kernel at my initial install, but you need to be prepared to recover
from potential unusual problems if you take that approach.

> 
> And is it necessary to have nptl install for 2.6 kernel ??? I think yea,
> but I want to be shure.
> 

Unless you are running highly thread-intensive applications (java,
maybe), you probably won't notice much difference with or without
nptl. You can run 2.6 with or without nptl, but it is necessary to be
running a 2.6 kernel to enable nptl. If you are intending to do that
from the initial install, you need to select the smp kernel when
booting from the LiveCD, since the default kernel on the LiveCD is
still 2.4.

After you are up and running, do this:

1. emerge a 2.6 kernel source, build a kernel, and boot from that kernel.
2. emerge -C linux24-headers
3. emerge linux26-headers
4. set USE="nptl" or USE="nptlonly"
5. emerge glibc
6. you may need to emerge a few additional packages if anything stops working.

Good luck and welcome to gentoo. If you don't understand any of this,
try searching the forum entries, then ask more questions.

-- 
 Collins

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