[TriLUG] Red Hat kernel challenge

Matt Matthews jvm at linuxgames.com
Wed Feb 26 20:11:42 EST 2003


Upon rereading, this is going to read flamously to some people, I suppose. But I do think there some points with respect to binary modules and support that should be made. Apologies in advance.

On 26 Feb 2003 16:05:50 -0700 Ed Hill <ed at eh3.com> wrote:
> <sarcasm type="mean">
>   Welcome to the wonderful world of binary-only kernel modules.
> </sarcasm>

I've been there plenty already. Thanks, though.

> So maybe next time that you want to use newer kernels you should get an
> ATi Radeon since they:
[snip]
> don't require any binary-only kernel modules?

A Radeon...no binary modules. A Radeon 8500...no binary modules. But, for the foreseeable future, I believe a binary module will be the only way to go for anything newer. The point of this testing I'm doing is to evaluate all these solutions, so I will be looking at those cards that do not require a binary module and those that do. From NVIDIA, ATI, and Power VR.

While I dislike binary modules, the NVIDIA situation is at least bearable as long as they continue support. That they've added 3D support in FreeBSD for all NVIDIA cards (IIRC) is better than ATI, at this point. I would like to see support for more architectures, but that will come as demand grows, one might hope. From my own experience, as long as I've been using my Gentoo system for normal work, the binary support for NVIDIA cards and modern kernels has been excellent.

My issue is with a specific class of Red Hat [S]RPMs. NVIDIA and ATI have provided support for the kind of testing I need to do, each in its own way, and the new Red Hat kernel isn't supported. The older kernel has trouble building with the newer RPM tools. That's Red Hat's mistake, as far as I'm concerned. I would like to see signs that Red Hat is working actively with hardware vendors to ensure that a new release of their system doesn't mean there will be a lag as hardware vendors scramble to catch up.

> ps - I remember that theres an IRC channel somewhere where nVidia 
>      insiders will give you newer builds of their drivers.  Isn't 
>      *that* convenient?  [hint: no, it isn't]  Anyway, you can try 
>      google-ing for it.

#nvidia on irc.openprojects.net according to the FAQ.

matt

-- 
jvm at linuxgames.com
http://curmudgeon.linuxgames.com  | Thoughts on games, any type or system



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