Any more trimming I can do to my kernel image?

ImageJPEG

Currently my kernel is 3,875,512 bytes. I'm using LZO compression (for fast decompression) and have selected "optimized for size" option.

I've tried to find as many things possible to compile as modules, make it as slim as possible. My current list of auto loaded modules are:

eccerr0r · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 5:31 am Post subject:

What are you trying to accomplish here? Is your bzImage 3.8MB or your uncompressed vmlinuz.o image size 3.8MB?
Linux has bloated a lot over the years... ACPI I think is a big blob of code and for modern machines it can't be omitted...
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Bones McCracker · Veteran Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1611 Location: U.S.A.

I don't think you're going to get a worthwhile answer to that question without providing a lot more information. Kernel configuration and size depend on many factors (the architecture, what you're using the machine for, what hardware you've got, the kernel version and what patches have been applied, whether your customizing for one machine or building a kernel that must be able to run on many, what your optimization goals are their relative importance (e.g., boot time, performance, security, etc.).

My kernel on the machine I'm using right now is 2,671,344 B (gentoo-sources-3.7.4, LZO compression), and I build things in by default, unless I have a specific reason it should be a module (e.g., removable hardware).
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ImageJPEG · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 6:53 am Post subject:

Nothing really to accomplish. Just trying to play around with it a bit. I'm using Gentoo in a VirtualBox on a MacBook Pro if that helps. I guess I'm just trying to compile a kernel that only needs drivers to prevent it from kernel panicing and load the rest from modules.

I'm using gentoo-sources 3.6.11 right now with all the patches that came when I merged it. My goals would probably be boot time and performance.

Oh, and the size is the size of my bzImage.

The Doctor · Moderator Joined: 27 Jul 2010 Posts: 2678

Did you start with a kernel seed?

Also, building fewer modules will decrease boot time because the kernel does not need to load them. Modules are best for things you either need to load firmware for or don't need normally. They really don't do much else. So parring done is all well and good, but modules probably aren't your silver bullet.
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