Kernel choices!

4.3pre-beta will be built with the 2.6.29.6 kernel. I had to roll back because of the cdrki/cdrtools problem reported earlier in this blog.

However, we are still at a flexible stage, and after I get home I'll do some builds with the 2.6.30.3 and also the 2.6.27.28 kernels -- I'll upload them from the Perenjori Telecentre.

We can compare them, see which ones look best overall.

The 2.6.27.x kernel is very interesting, as it is continuing to be supported, the latest is 2.6.27.28 upgraded on 24 July 2009. The 28/29/30 have major structural changes, so some kernel developers have an interest in continuing to upgrade the 27 series. It also has the older squashfs support.
It will be interesting to check it out.

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Comments

2.6.30 is faster??
Username: Jota
On an old celeron 600 Toshiba, with 190Mb Ram, I run Puppy 4.12, pup4-417-k2.6.25.16 and pup4-417-k2.6.30.1_cutdown_modules, and the last one was the fastest, by a large margin. I was quite surprised by this result!

faster?
Username: BarryK
"Jota, I was wondering about that also. 417 with the 2.6.30.1 kernel "felt" faster, but I wasn't sure if it was just a subjective impression. Everything seemed to be just that little bit more snappier. I wonder if the improved ext2 driver is the cause?

Snappier is the right word
Username: Jota
" And, there's one more important thing: using top, the "Load average" is down by about 30% compared to the other puppies.

kernel sense
Username: dogone
"Just to bring us all back down, whatever kernel you employ will age just as fast as the one before it and the one after it. And a few points this way or that won't matter a bit in a few months time. Personally, I prefer to let the more significant kernel releases "age" bit. That said, 4.3 is pre-beta. There's still time to experiment.

Improved wireless mouse/keyboard
Username: dogone
"I must add that 417 under 2.6.30.x has solved long-standing difficulties with wireless mouse and keyboard on one of my machines (c.2001). The problems involved either no recognition of the devices or loss of keyboard control during boot. Anyway, no problems under 417 w/2.5.30.x!

Tags: woof