[LAU] Kernel 2.6.39

[david]

Oon-Ee Ng wrote:
> On Wed, Jun 22, 2011 at 5:02 PM, david <gnome at hawaii.rr.com> wrote:
>> sonofzev at iinet.net.au wrote:
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> could there be any disadvantages for averaged desktop users, server
>>>> usage etc., if the kernel 2.6.39 is build as PREEMPT kernel?
>>>>
>>>> Today I installed the kernel from the repositories of a major Distro:
>>>>
>>>> $ uname -a
>>>> Linux debian 2.6.39-2-amd64 #1 SMP Wed Jun 8 11:01:04 UTC 2011 x86_64
>>>> GNU/Linux
>>>>
>>>> Some time ago I build the kernel myself:
>>>>
>>>> $ uname -a
>>>> Linux debian 2.6.39.1 #1 SMP PREEMPT Tue Jun 7 01:40:05 CEST 2011 x86_64
>>>> GNU/Linux
>>>>
>>>> I'm asking, because I want to know, if it would be reasonable to appeal,
>>>> that major distros should build it as PREEMPT kernel.
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>>
>>>> Ralf
>>>>
>>>> _________
>>> Hi Ralf,
>>> My understanding that there would probably be not much differences for
>>> desktop
>>> users. However (most) server users would not want a pre-emptively built as
>>> they
>>> generally require to share their services whereas pre-emption can cause
>>> delays on
>>> some services...
>>> FWIW - this is only my limited understanding..  I have a pre-emptive
>>> kernel on my
>>> general purpose laptop.. On my home server I have no latency on low value
>>> kernel
>>> timer.. .
>>>
>>> I recommend either building your own kernel (fairly easy, especially if
>>> you save
>>> your config from previous builds).. Or getting a pre-built audio purpose
>>> kernel..
>> IIRC reading on this list sometime ago, the kernel folk don't want to
>> incorporate RT PREEMPT into standard kernels because software running on the
>> kernel can use RT stuff to cause a local DoS situation (the software using
>> the RT functionality can make the kernel unavailable for non-RT uses). Or
>> something like that!
>>
>> --
>> David
> 
> He's talking about PREEMPT, not RT. Non-RT kernels have that config
> option as well (CONFIG_PREEMPT)

OK. I've not had to configure an RT kernel here, the one running on 
musicbox came that way from the audio distro.

-- 
David
gnome at hawaii.rr.com
authenticity, honesty, community