Just want to drop a quick note about Linux Kernel 2.6.x.
I’m still using on both my machines (this laptop and my gateway/firewall/printing server/etc… machine) 2.4.x series kernels (2.4.29 here, and 2.4.31 there) both because these are the kernels that came out by default with the two Slackware relases I’m using (respectivly 10.1 and 10.2), and also because my attempts to switch to a newer kernel relase have been very unsuccesful until now.
I not a linux-guru, and I compiled my first custom kernel just today, but every time I tried to install a precompiled 2.6.x kernel what I got was hardware to be configured in order to work, while with the 2.4.x serie worked out-of-the-box (speaking about my hardware only… not speaking about yours too, I’m sure for you could be very different).
This is not to say I’m not willing to configure things in order for them to work, it’s just that I don’t see the need for such fast and continuos relases of a new kernel series when the old one is still performing good (in most standard cases).
Of course my knowledge of these cases is in fact very limited, and I’m sure I’m probably totally wrong here, but this’s my personal feeling abou it: I don’t understand this race toward the new kernel relase I often see around among the Linux users. I know for sure there are specific configurations that could be supported only (or easier) by a 2.6.x kernel, but indeed I still consider the 2.4.x a valuable choice: it works amazingly on my notebook without any problems, and I’m sure will do the same on a lot of other systems.
This’s why while I don’t like Patrick Volkerding’s line about Gnome (even if I understand the reasons behind it…), I like his line about keeping a 2.4.x kernel in Slackware 10.1/10.2.
But I like to work on this… so, I’ll take a break from my-geek-self for tonight, and tomorrow I will come back working on 2.6.13.2, to find out who is more powerful: the kernel or the curson? ;)
I like to work on it, but just because I’ve a 2.4.31 fully functional ready for when I will be sick of trying!
