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发信人: Lg (创造人生的传奇), 信区: Linux
标 题: Linux kernel 2.2 explained
发信站: BBS 荔园晨风站 (Tue Jan 26 05:36:33 1999), 站内信件 (WWW POST)
Linux kernel 2.2 explained
Jan 21st, 11:12:28
Introduction
Should I upgrade? How do I upgrade? Any big problems I can
expect? Linux Today's Dave Whitinger examines the newest Linux
kernel, 2.2.0.
Last May, in his keynote speech to a crowd of over 1,000 at the 1998
LinuxExpo in Durham, NC, Linus Torvalds told the world that he expected
kernel 2.2.0 to be released "real soon now" -- in June or July 1998.
Eight months later, after an incredible amount of further development and
testing, we finally have our new kernel.
In this article, I examine the 2.2.0 kernel and attempt to address some of
the more common questions that users are likely to ask about it.
What is it?
The kernel is the core of the operating system. It's primary functions are
controlling execution of processes, handling memory management, providing
a file system, and providing a portable interface through which programs
may communicate with hardware.
The Linux kernel has been in development since 1991. For a complete look
at the history of the Linux kernel, visit the Linux Kernel Version History
web site.
Should I upgrade?
There are good reasons for upgrading and
good reasons to stay with the 2.0.XX series
of kernels. The most direct answer is: if
this is a production machine, you are
strongly advised not to upgrade to 2.2
until it has proven completely stable. This
is not to say that 2.2.0 is not already
stable, but on a production machine, you
may be better served to delay your upgrade
until it's stability has been proven elsewhere.
Which leads me to the reason you may choose to upgrade: if your computer
is not a production system (e.g., your personal workstation, your
wife's/kids' computer), then it makes good sense to upgrade it and see how
well it performs, especially if you want to take advantage of the 2.2
kernel's new features.
What new features are present in the 2.2
kernel?
For this question, we visit the Wonderful World of Linux 2.2 article, that
Joseph Pranevich so generously volunteered to write.
The summary is this:
Increased hardware architecture support
The kernel now fully supports:
x86
SPARC
Ultra
Alpha
m68k
PowerPC
Linux 2.2 is the first stable Linux to support x86 processor vendor
selection in the kernel configuration tool for even better fine-tuning.
Better CD-ROM support
Thankfully, the hodge-podge of hundreds of CD-ROM standards has solidified
behind the 'standard' of ATAPI CD-ROMs. This reprieve has given developers
time to completely rewrite the CD-ROM driver system to be more
standardized in terms of support. Small, quirky differences between the
individual drivers have now all been fixed for better support.
Sound support
The sound support has been completely re-written in order for the sound
card drivers to be modular from the start. This will ease the setting up
of a sound card, and will allow distribution vendors more flexibility in
their setup.
Graphics
Perhaps the most surprising and cutting-edge addition to kernel 2.2 is
what is called the 'frame-buffer console' driver (or 'fbcon', for short.)
From the kernel source:
"Frame buffer consoles ("fbcon") are now in the kernel for all
platforms, not just those non-Intel ones for which VGA text mode
is impossible. VGAcon is still available for those who want it,
but fbcon has the advantage of providing a uniform graphical
subsystem across all Linux ports, and it displays a spiffy
penguin logo on boot-up ;-). For more information, see the files
in /usr/src/linux/Documentation/fb/"
New filesystems
The new kernel will support a vast array of filesystems:
Amiga FFS
Macintosh HFS
ROM Filesystem
UFS
CODA
OS/2 HPFS (Read only)
NTFS (Read only)
(Not all filesystems supported are listed -- only the newer and more
interesting ones...)
Linux 2.2 adds to the already present internationalization features of the
operating system by including the ability to load some UNICODE codepages
for translating filenames into Linux's native system. Linux 2.0 only
supported international keyboards and the like.
Linux 2.2 will be a more 'standard' UNIX in a number of ways. The most
pronounced of these ways to the end user will be the addition of
UNIX98-style Pty devices using a new filesystem (devpts) and a cloning
device to provide the functionality.
How do I upgrade?
First, you must make sure you are running the latest versions of these
software packages:
Package
Version needed
How to ascertain version
Kernel modules
2.1.121
insmod -V
Binutils
2.8.1.0.23
ld -v
Linux libc5 C Library
5.4.46
ls -l /lib/libc.so.*
Linux libc6 C Library
2.0.7pre6
ls -l /lib/libc.so.*
Dynamic Linker (ld.so)
1.9.9
ldd --version or ldd -v
Procps
1.2.9
ps --version
Procinfo
15
procinfo -v
Psmisc
17
pstree -V
Net-tools
1.49
hostname -V
Loadlin
1.6a
Dos based
Sh-utils
1.16
basename --v
Autofs
3.1.1
automount --version
NFS
2.2beta37
showmount --version
Bash
1.14.7
bash -version
Ncpfs
2.2.0
ncpmount -v
Pcmcia-cs
3.0.6
cardmgr -V
PPP
2.3.5
pppd -v
Util-linux
2.9
chsh -v
You only need to upgrade these packages if you are currently using them.
If you don't currently use Ncpfs, for example, don't worry about
getting the latest version. If you end up needing to upgrade something,
first check with your distribution vendor's ftp site for updates. Failing
that, you may access the Linux Changes page for an HTML-ized version of
this table (and more!) with links to each package's download site.
There is a good possibility that your distribution is already up to date,
and ready for the kernel.
After this is in place, follow through with the standard kernel
compilation techniques. Untar the file into /usr/src/linux, then:
cd /usr/src/linux
make config # Answer the questions are are given
make dep ; make clean
make bzImage
Notice that it is now encouraged to use "bzImage" instead of the old
"zImage". This allows for better compression of a kernel that has
increased considerably in size.
Once you have the new bzImage, you may configure your lilo to boot the
image as normal.
What problems can I expect?
It is still too early to say what kinds of problems people may find with
the new kernel, but if you carefully upgraded each of your software
packages (listed above), you should not run into any problems.
I have been using the beta to this kernel for quite some time, with no
problems at all. Your results may vary, of course, but if you have a spare
machine that you can play with, I highly encourage you to take part in
this historic event by testing the new kernel out.
Please use the talkback forum below to voice any comments or questions you
have regarding this article.
Mail this story
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