Re: Hardwired drivers are going away?

[David Lang]

On Mon, 14 Jan 2002, Alan Cox wrote:

> > 1. security, if you don't need any modules you can disable modules entirly
> > and then it's impossible to add a module without patching the kernel first
> > (the module load system calls aren't there)
>
> Urban legend.
>

If this is the case then why do I get systemcall undefined error messages
when I make a mistake and attempt to load a module on a kernel without
modules enabled?

> > 2. speed, there was a discussion a few weeks ago pointing out that there
> > is some overhead for useing modules (far calls need to be used just in
> > case becouse the system can't know where the module will be located IIRC)
>
> I defy you to measure it on x86

during the discussion a few weeks ago there were people pointing out cases
where this overhead would be a problem.

> > 3. simplicity in building kernels for other machines. with a monolithic
> > kernel you have one file to move (and a bootloader to run) with modules
> > you have to move quite a few more files.
>
> tar or nfs mount; make modules_install.
>
not on my firewalls thank you.

David Lang