[linux-help] Re: Which kernel?

[james l <james@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Root/Great Overall Dictator replies:
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: linux-help-bounce@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:linux-help-bounce@xxxxxxxxx]On
> > Behalf Of Carl D Cravens
> >
> >
> > The curent "stable" version is 2.4.4... sounds like a far cry from 2.0.36.
> > Is this release really considered stable by the general Linux public?
> >
> > Debian 2.2 (potato) contains 2.2.19pre17... is the 2.2.x series considered
> > preferable to the 2.4.x series right now?  Is there a generally "accepted"
> > kernel in use, much like 2.0.36 was pretty much "the" kernel for awhile?
> >
> Right now, most conservative people are running a late 2.2 system, as 2.4 
> seems
> to have more than it's fair share of bugs. 2.4 also requires some serious
> updates to your tools as it has some major changes "under the hood".  Debian
> "Potato" does not support the 2.4 kernel out of the box, but there are 
> packages
> availalbe if you wish to run it.  Some of the "neater stuff" like USB has been
> backported to the 2.2.19 kernel.  2.4.x has better support for multiple
> processors, and has reiser file system support, IIRC. Unless you have a
> compelling need, I'd probably stick with 2.2.19 and wait for 2.4.x to settle
> down a bit.
> 
> --dwh
> 
Of course, it depends on what you are doing (which drivers)
I have used 2.4 since the -test2 (pre-release) and not had many problems at
all, (with the kernel, rh7 was a different story) except for the new way
insmod works. (You have to either move/copy the modules from
/lib/modules/2.4.x/kernel/drivers/* to /lib/modules/2.4.x/ to get it to work
with older insmod/modprobes) 
However, in my opinion, if you want to use some new stuff (USB, firewire,
video4linux, and several other things) it is better to use the 2.4 kernel
series, as even the USB backports are not up to date with any bug-fixes, new
features, etc. (USB is from 2.4.1 or earlier I think, anyone know?)
From personal experence, 2.4 runs faster on an smp system. 

In your case, I however, would reccomend 2.2.x because you aren't currently
running anything it wouldn't support, (if 2.0.36 does) and that still is the
standard era kernel. 

James L

ps to The conservative people, come on, help us find bugs, if it isn't
bugfree :)
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