Messages in this thread | | | Date | Wed, 09 Dec 1998 19:49:35 -0300 | From | "John R. Lenton" <> | Subject | A ramble re Menuconfig in 2.1.131ac6 |
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Hello all. Here's another something for you to ignore.
I'm using menuconfig to configure the kernel on an almost exclusive basis, because config is rather---um---well I don't use config, and I don't use xconfig because I don't run X as root, and I haven't taken the trouble to set things up so I can run xconfig as root when X is being run as me. Ok? Now, I know some people [FIXME:WHO] rambled around about the things that weren't quite consistent in the config's, but it turned into absurdery rather quickly, I think. No offense intended. Anyhow, these are a bunch of rethoric questions, wrt linux 2.1.131ac6. It's rather longer than I intended, and all I've done is gone down the different things I change or look at as I go down. I.e. this isn't even close to exhaustive. I sometimes flaunt questions I know [partial] answers for, because I'm aiming at what questions popped up the first time[s] I fiddled with this. I am, you could say without doubt, John Doe power user just sat down to try and actually *do* the thing after reading the pertinent HOWTOs and the docs 'n' such.
[Rethoric question => No answer needed. If you do feel the urge to swat my ignorance, swat mine without showing off yours. Don't flood the list. If a lot of people feel this urge I'll try and send one set of answers back, possibly with patches (?), but I think we all have enough of this derailing conversation syndrome.]
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o First off: some items not marked as (EXPERIMENTAL) but as (NEW) don't show up unless you select CONFIG_EXPERIMENTAL. E.g.: CONFIG_MTRR. In this example, either i) MTRR is (EXPERIMENTAL), or ii) MTRR should be there even w/o CONFIG_EXPERIMENTAL. I don't use MTRR so I didn't realize this way: a much less obvious one (unless you're reading the code :) is CONFIG_CPU_IS_SLOW, which I do use on my 386 so I can't freeze it with ping -f (it's really funny: if s'body is working in wfw311 on the 386, I ping -f them and the computer will literally f r e e z e. I did it once just as they were starting netscape, and the startup logo stopped right in the middle of itself).
o Why is CONFIG_MTRR an option when CONFIG_M386 is anything but PPro? Does this make sense? If so, the help for CONFIG_MTRR should explain this. If not, it shouldn't be an option. (Also: Does the Celeron have MTRR? Is the Celeron considered a PPro or a Pentium?)
o Are/were there 386 SMP's?
o Does there exist a possible configuration where you'd want to enable CONFIG_MATH_EMULATION for a Pentium? Yes, as stated in the help for CONFIG_M386, you could compile somthing for a 486 as Pentium if you want a smaller kernel, and some 486's (the 486dlc, but probably other non-Intel ones) don't have a copro. Anyway, does there exist a possible configuration where you'd want to enable CONFIG_MATH_EMULATION for a PPro?
o The help for CONFIG_BLK_DEV_IDECD says "Most new CDROM drives use ATAPI, including [...] just about all non-SCSI double(2X), quad(4X), and six(6X) speed drives." This could do with a bit of fresh paint, as 30x drives are pretty much standard (even _I_ have a 24x).
o Should CONFIG_BINFMT_JAVA be an option if you select CONFIG_BINFMT_MISC? Are there backward-compat. issues? [I don't care: I don't java, but my brain just loves to find this kind of niggly junk]
o Why is CONFIG_PARPORT_OTHER an option only if you select CONFIG_PARPORT_PC?
o Why does CONFIG_BLK_DEV_CMD640 default to yes? On the same lines, why does CONFIG_BLK_DEV_RZ1000 default to yes? Are they _that_ common? I understand that most new PC's are PCI based, so that's fine, in the same way most people have a ATAPI CDROM, but these chipsets? Or maybe you just got flooded by "Linux sucks! my cmd640 says so!", and decided that the lesser evil was to have it as a default?
o [Here I'm sure I'm showing off my ignorance. See how nice and shiny it is. You probably have caught glimpses of it before.] When I upgraded from my xt to my 386 I had to throw out (well, shelf. My mom threw it out.) my xt's hard drive because it wouldn't work with the 386. Was I ripped off? Or is there some trick to using these (ugly slow chunky gas-eating monster) drives on [345]86's? I could probably get hold of a (ugly slow chunky gas-eating monster) 20 meg "diskette" :) if this were so.
o As soon as I select CONFIG_IP_FIREWALL I get checkboxes for CONFIG_IP_ALWAYS_DEFRAG (with the nice new "required for masquerading") and CONFIG_IP_TRANSPARENT_PROXY, and I also get the chkbox for CONFIG_IP_MASQUERADE. Not only that, if I then select and deselect _DEFRAG I get what I expected, i.e. that _MASQUERADE is off when _DEFRAG is off. I suspect this is just a little goof, yes?
o *Must* you remind my that I'm stuck with IDE while I should be using SCSI? Oh well... :)
o I have a 386 and a p200 on a small ethernet LAN and I connect to internet via ppp from my p200. This isn't all that uncommon (I think), but I have no idea if I should/how I would use the dummy thing or not. I've red the NET3-HOWTO and the Ethernet-HOWTO and the NAG, and didn't glean much from there. Well maybe I'm comprehension-challenged, but a couple of hours ago I seem to think I didn't think I though so.
o Is the EtherExpressPro/100 _that_ popular that it's the default? I don't mean to be nasty or anything, just that around here most cards are NE2k's, which is lowsy and matches our GNP.
o I get all these options for IrDA, _without_ checking the CONFIG_IRDA box. Shouldn't this be like CONFIG_SCSI or CONFIG_HAMRADIO, where I've got to check _IRDA to get the CONFIG_IRDA_* options? Also, if CONFIG_EXPERIMENTAL isn't on, is there any way to fully avoid having the submenu? It's empty anyway.
o If I don't select SCSI, IrDA, parallel printers, nor serial port support, what printer will give me PRINTER_READBACK through where? What's more, the help for CONFIG_PRINTER_READBACK seems to imply that it's for printers on the lp devices, which is somehow reinforced by it being right under CONFIG_PRINTER. Whichever is the case, i) shouldn't the help be extended a bit, and/or ii) shouldn't it be an option only if possible?
o Again, around this neck of the woods PS/2 mouses aren't at all common. Neither is the TI Travelmate, but maybe they're being used as doorstops up north? <translation> Why are CONFIG_PSMOUSE and CONFIG_82C710_MOUSE *on* by default, and why is CONFIG_MOUSE *on* by default? </translation>
o Why is ftape in with the char devices? is this ok? And why am I asked (of all things) for the CPU clock frequency of my DEC Alpha, when you know I don't even have an Alpha? [Note that when you start addressing your computer in second person it's because you're getting rather tired of not fully understanding the questions you're being asked. See further up re comprehension-challenge] Oh well good thing I don't own one.
o [This one at least I've seen discussed] Why are MSDOS_FS, UMSDOS_FS and VFAT_FS options if FAT_FS hasn't been checked yet? It makes a sometimes blurry distinction even weaker: If when I select FAT (which if it's the only one that sounds like DOS/Windows is pretty obvious), I'm then asked for MSDOS, UMSDOS, or VFAT, it's quite clear, however having all four options au pair makes it just confusing. You end up reading the help's over and over just to make sure you've got right something that should've been obvious. So: i) MSDOS, UMSDOS & VFAT shouldn't be there until FAT=yup (yup=yes or module). And ii) you should complain if FAT=yup and neither MSDOS, UMSDOS nor VFAT have been yupped.
o [I think this'been discussed too] Why is /proc even an *option*? is there _anything_ you can do with a Linux box w/o the /proc fs? And /please/ don't send me to the khg, it's been dead for ages.
o Shouldn't you complain if one of the fs's that use NLS are yupped and you don't yup at least one pair of codepages? Isn't there a suitable default, in the same way there is a suitable default for various other choices? What do most people use? (Probably: Codepage 437 or 850, and ISO 8859-1, but I'm biased). While I'm here: cheers to whoever put in the (region) info into this section.(Axel Boldt?)
o Maybe you could add the bit about the standard VGA driver handling MDA's from CONFIG_MDA_CONSOLE to the help re CONFIG_VGA_CONSOLE, as the 1st won't be there if you don't select CONFIG_EXPERIMENTAL? I hate to remind you that some people still have computers running only hercules? (you can't beat it for speed on a 386 :)
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That's about it. Long-winded, aren't I? If you've got here without falling asleep, there's a crate of cabernet saubignon, or petit syrah (your choice), just to make sure you _do_ go to sleep :)
Cheers, John
Oops my dog ate the crates.
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