Re: USB and more PCI device support

[David Brownlee <abs%netbsd.org@localhost>]

On 13 December 2010 18:27, Erik Berls <cyber%ono-sendai.com@localhost> wrote:
> On Mon, Dec 13, 2010 at 10:20, Andy Ruhl <acruhl%gmail.com@localhost> wrote:
>> On Sun, Dec 12, 2010 at 4:31 AM, Izumi Tsutsui 
>> <tsutsui%ceres.dti.ne.jp@localhost> wrote:
>>> I know it's a bit annoying so I also put a compiled sample kernel
>>> which includes much more PCI and USB device drivers:
>>> ftp://ftp.NetBSD.org/pub/NetBSD/arch/cobalt/5.1/
>>> - kern-GENERIC.tgz includes "/netbsd" kernel based on GENERIC
>>> Âbut with more drivers.
>>> - "PCIDEVS" is a kernel config file to build this one
>>>
>>> You can use it by replacing a kernel in running your system and
>>> rebooting it, but don't forget to rename an original kernel for recovery.
>>
>> Will this eventually be rolled into the regular code stream? USB
>> support makes the Cobalt a lot more useful.
>
> I could be convinced. ÂOne of the things that sort of broke at one
> point was netbooting of large kernels and booting off the second drive
> (either of which is necessary to install to CF cards) due to bloat.
> At that time the bootstrap only worked on the primary HD. ÂI'd have to
> double check that we don't make certain use cases harder, or
> impossible. Â(eg. NetBooting a kernel with fun stuff in it.)

There is prior art on i386 for a GENERIC and GENERIC_TINY. Someone with a 16MB
vanilla RAQ is unlikely to be impressed by a 9MB+ GENERIC packed full
of extra PCI
and USB devices, but it seems that there is enough demand for the full
fat version :)