Subject: Re: About options GENERIC (Was: Problems compiling current sources)
To: Gordon W. Ross <gwr@mc.com>
From: Chris G Demetriou <Chris_G_Demetriou@ux2.sp.cs.cmu.edu>
List: current-users
Date: 06/14/1996 16:35:53
> I understand the desire to have all kernels be able to set the
> root to whatever you booted from, however, I also find it useful
> to be able to turn that off, at least for the particular case of
> a kernel designed to use a built-in ramdisk root.  In that case,
> there is little point in keeping the setroot() code in there.
> (The root should always be the ramdisk, otherwise you should
> boot some other kernel without the built-in ramdisk.)

unless you happen to only have that kernel (say, maybe because it's
what's on your tape, and you blew away your kernel on /), so you want
to boot with RB_ASKNAME and tell it do the right thing...

to my mind, the only time you'd want to remove that code is if you're
Really Really Really short on space.


it's worth noting that neither the sparc nor the alpha port actually
_do_ anything with the figured-out root device (unless RB_ASKNAME) if
the kernel has been config'd to have a real (i.e. non 'generic')
root/swap spec.


cgd