Pappy's Kernel Seeds Part IV

pappy_mcfae · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 7:11 pm Post subject: Pappy's Kernel Seeds Part IV

Welcome to the fourth discussion thread for Pappy's kernel seeds! The usual stuff:

All mirrors will be updated later on this evening to add this new thread. The other threads will also remain accessible.

THREAD #1
THREAD #2
THREAD #3

If the main site is down for a long time, please use the mirrors listed in my sig, and let me know there are issues.

NeddySeagoon, please make this sticky.

Thanks.

Cheers,
Pappy
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pappy_mcfae · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 7:41 am Post subject:

The site pages have been updated to include this new discussion thread. Enjoy!

Cheers,
Pappy
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f4c3m3l70r · n00b Joined: 19 Jul 2011 Posts: 47

I saw you have not not configured

pappy_mcfae · Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 7:51 pm Post subject:

1. I use chrome all the time on standard kernel seed settings. I use the older versions where those who like to run as root aren't penalized for doing such.
2. The seed is intended to get systems up and running with Linux. If you feel the need to change settings because a package requires it, that is beyond the scope of the seed.

A seed is intended to be the beginning of getting your Linux kernel where you want it. It is not the end. Any required tweaks to tailor the kernel to your system are up to you, the user.

Cheers,
Pappy
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NeddySeagoon · Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 10:11 pm Post subject:

pappy_mcfae,

Mirror: http://62.3.120.142/~pappy/ is back to its old IP of 62.3.120.141 but its down until I fix the apache setup.
That will be real soon now - honest
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Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

pappy_mcfae · Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 4:32 am Post subject:

Cool. Let me know when all is back in order.

Cheers,
Pappy
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imanidiot123 · n00b Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Posts: 24

Not sure about the side effects, but I think it'd be a good idea to enable Improved Transaction Translator Scheduling under Device Drivers/USB Support.

I say this because on some, at least Intel, USB 2.0 controllers, having this option disabled makes full speed USB audio devices fail to playback or record with EPIPE and error -28 on the system log.

pappy_mcfae · Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 8:11 am Post subject:

Another day brings more goodies from the hardened-sources folks. I've just uploaded .configs for 2.6.32-hardened-r58 and 2.6.39-hardened-r8 in both x86 and x86_64 flavors. Enjoy!

imanidiot123,

Once again, the seed is more about getting things up and running. Your statement bears merit, but it is one of those things that goes beyond basic operation. That said, I am sure that there are a few folks who need to know that little bit of information.

That is part of what this discussion is for...what happens after things are running properly. Please keep the suggestions coming, as they are helpful in and of themselves, even if they never make it to a seed.

Cheers,
Pappy
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imanidiot123 · n00b Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Posts: 24

I see. Still, if there aren't any side effects, and it's found to be a common problem, it should be considered, though I suppose it might just eventually end up the default anyway, if it's a kind of transitional option while they're still testing it.

Thanks anyway, I've been using the kernel seeds for a while, and they've been a good help.

pappy_mcfae · Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 7:16 pm Post subject:

If it becomes a real issue for people, I will of course change things up. For now, I'd prefer the seeds to be as minimalist as possible.

Cheers,
Pappy
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NeddySeagoon · Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 8:02 pm Post subject:

imanidiot123,

If your hardware supports USB Transaction Translation, you should use it instead of OHCI_HID/UHCI_HID.
However, if you don't have USB Transaction Translation, you need OHCI_HID/UHCI_HID for USB 1.1 devices.

Is one of those things where leaving it off is safe but turning it on and removing the old USB1.1 support, stops a lot of users mice/keyboard working.

Not all new equipment supports USB Transaction Translation either. Its in my two year old desktop but not my shiny new server.
The only way I know to find out if you have Transaction Translation support is to build a kernel and see. Of course, if its missing, you need a PS/2 keyboard or ssh access to shutdown cleanly.
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Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

pepoluan · Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 4:07 am Post subject:

Hi pappy!

I've been looking into your kernel seeds, and found them fascinating.

Since you are the de-facto go-to guy for seeds, would you consider adding seeds for DomU's?

I myself have identified some .config settings *vital* for running Gentoo as a paravirtualized DomU over XenServer; they're part of my (still draft) article on Gentoo-wiki.
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pappy_mcfae · Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 7:29 pm Post subject:

Pardon my not getting back to you sooner. Our cable modem has a tendency to reboot itself for no good reason...and then, it won't come back online for hours at a time.

I've set a xen-source kernel using the basic vanilla seed. It seemed to work. I'd like to know more about xen, just for grins. Also, since I've written off the zen-sources folks, I do have room for another set of sources.

To get started, use a vanilla seed that is less than the version of xen-sources you're using. Enter make oldconfig, and set the proper xen settings of which you speak. Once you get it functional, remove your hardware settings, and send it along in a message here. Post the .config using pastebin, if you please.

That can be the starting point for setting up xen-sources.

Cheers,
Pappy
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NeddySeagoon · Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 7:55 pm Post subject:

pappy_mcfae,

I can do you a Xen DomU .config. bloodnoc.org is a Xen DomU

Please fix your sig 142 is now 141 and that mirror is back up
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Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

pepoluan · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 12:40 am Post subject:

pappy_mcfae · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 5:33 am Post subject:

Cool.

Cheers,
Pappy
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pepoluan · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:35 am Post subject:

Here's the .config for Linux/i386 2.6.39-hardened-r8 (x86)

http://pastebin.com/GqzLAs91

As to the options that *must* be set in a certain way to ensure Gentoo runs in PV-mode on XenServer:

http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/User:Pepoluan/Paravirtualized_Gentoo_VMs_on_XenServer
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Moriah · Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 4:13 am Post subject:

I don't use Xen, but I do use vmware workstation 7.1.4 build-385536 -- that's not the free version, but the pay-for one. I have been using it to run winxp on my gentoo laptop. I chose the pay-for version because I use it to develop stuff for clients, so I need support -- mainly so I can say I have it, I find the forum support usually is quicker to resolve most problems anyway.

So I have not yet built a gentoo system to run under vmware, but its on my list. Any tidbits of experience you can share that might port to other virtual environments would be most welcome.

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pepoluan · Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 5:09 am Post subject:

Moriah · Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 6:37 am Post subject:

I probably would need initramfs (newer form of initrd) because my gentoo systems boot directly to a lvm logical volume.

Sometimes, especially on laptops, I boot from a usb stick, and the drive in the laptop is fully encrypted whole-disk, no partitions, no partition table, and lvm sits on the decrypted device, and my os sits on a logical volume under lvm control. Once the system is booted, I remove the usb stick.

So either way, I would need an initramfs to make this work.

If, on the other hand, I was working on a physical disk that was already encrypted, then I would still want lvm on the root filesystem so I could use snapshots when I was backing it up with my backup server, which runs every night to back up all the machines on my network.

So I am probably stuck with using an initramfs.
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pappy_mcfae · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 7:43 am Post subject:

Not a lot of sources, but a lot of things on Pappy's plate. I've just uploded .configs for 2.6.35.14 in both x86 and x86_64 flavors. Enjoy!

Cheers,
Pappy
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pappy_mcfae · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 7:50 am Post subject:

NeddySeagoon,

Thanks. I've updated my sig. I need to update the button I click to start sshfs to your server, too. I need to do that before the command walks its way out of ~/.bash_history.

I'm going to look at the xen .config I just received most likely tomorrow. I've got it downloaded on this machine, but bed is looking pretty inviting.

EDIT: I guess I should read a little better. I'd like to see the xen .config you have, NeddySeagoon. /EDIT

Cheers,
Pappy
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NeddySeagoon · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 6:21 pm Post subject:

pappy_mcfae,

Look in /usr/src/linux/.config at bloodnoc.org :)
Thats the kernel in the DomU that hosts kernel-seeds.bloodnoc.org
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Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

pappy_mcfae · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 9:59 pm Post subject:

I'll do that sometime later on this evening.

Cheers,
Pappy
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pappy_mcfae · Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 8:23 am Post subject:

I still haven't gotten to that. My world is getting weird, but in a very good way. I did setup a new seed for source that hasn't hit portage yet. I've just uploaded .configs for 2.6.39.4 in both x86 and x86_64 flavors. Enjoy!

Cheers,
Pappy
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