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ps shows pegasus process running - what is it?

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stroller at stellar

Nov 7, 2009, 1:45 AM

Post #1 of 40 (509 views)
Permalink

ps shows pegasus process running - what is it?

Hi there,

I have just found a process called "pegasus" running on my machine.
Does anyone know what it is, please?

# ps -e | grep peg
816 ? 00:00:00 pegasus
#

A Google suggested I might be able to find it's path thusly:
# ps -e -o pid,args | grep peg
816 [pegasus]
13927 grep --colour=auto peg
#

But as you can see, no joy. What do the [square brackets] mean, please?

`locate pegasus` only finds source files to a kernel driver - they
appear to relate to a USB network adaptor, as they're in /usr/
src/...drivers/net/usb/ however I can't say I've used one of those on
this system since it was last rebooted 2 weeks ago. I don't believe
this driver is loaded:
# lsmod | wc -l
49
# lsmod | grep peg
#

Obviously one is slightly paranoid when one encounters an unknown
process running on one's system, with the thought that one has been
hacked. I'm sure this isn't the case, but if someone could tell me
what this is it would reassure me and I would be grateful.

TIA,

Stroller.

volkerarmin at googlemail

Nov 7, 2009, 2:01 AM

Post #2 of 40 (485 views)
Permalink

Re: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

On Samstag 07 November 2009, Stroller wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> I have just found a process called "pegasus" running on my machine.
> Does anyone know what it is, please?
>
> # ps -e | grep peg
> 816 ? 00:00:00 pegasus
> #
>
> A Google suggested I might be able to find it's path thusly:
> # ps -e -o pid,args | grep peg
> 816 [pegasus]
> 13927 grep --colour=auto peg
> #
>
> But as you can see, no joy. What do the [square brackets] mean, please?

afaik it is a kernel process.

stroller at stellar

Nov 7, 2009, 3:28 AM

Post #3 of 40 (485 views)
Permalink

Re: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

On 7 Nov 2009, at 10:01, Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:

> On Samstag 07 November 2009, Stroller wrote:
>> Hi there,
>>
>> I have just found a process called "pegasus" running on my machine.
>> Does anyone know what it is, please?
>>
>> # ps -e | grep peg
>> 816 ? 00:00:00 pegasus
>> #
>>
>> A Google suggested I might be able to find it's path thusly:
>> # ps -e -o pid,args | grep peg
>> 816 [pegasus]
>> 13927 grep --colour=auto peg
>> #
>>
>> But as you can see, no joy. What do the [square brackets] mean,
>> please?
>
> afaik it is a kernel process.

Yes, on a second look I find other processes bracketed similarly -
e.g. rt2500pci and reiserfs.

I'd love to know what the name of the kernel module is so I can unload
it:

$ zcat /proc/config.gz | grep -i pegasus
CONFIG_USB_PEGASUS=y
$

Stroller.

volkerarmin at googlemail

Nov 7, 2009, 3:32 AM

Post #4 of 40 (485 views)
Permalink

Re: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

On Samstag 07 November 2009, Stroller wrote:
> On 7 Nov 2009, at 10:01, Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:
> > On Samstag 07 November 2009, Stroller wrote:
> >> Hi there,
> >>
> >> I have just found a process called "pegasus" running on my machine.
> >> Does anyone know what it is, please?
> >>
> >> # ps -e | grep peg
> >> 816 ? 00:00:00 pegasus
> >> #
> >>
> >> A Google suggested I might be able to find it's path thusly:
> >> # ps -e -o pid,args | grep peg
> >> 816 [pegasus]
> >> 13927 grep --colour=auto peg
> >> #
> >>
> >> But as you can see, no joy. What do the [square brackets] mean,
> >> please?
> >
> > afaik it is a kernel process.
>
> Yes, on a second look I find other processes bracketed similarly -
> e.g. rt2500pci and reiserfs.
>
> I'd love to know what the name of the kernel module is so I can unload
> it:
>
> $ zcat /proc/config.gz | grep -i pegasus
> CONFIG_USB_PEGASUS=y

it is not a module, but compiled in. You have to rebuild your kernel. And
probably decrapify your config a lot.

stroller at stellar

Nov 7, 2009, 3:51 PM

Post #5 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

On 7 Nov 2009, at 11:32, Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:
>> ...
>> I'd love to know what the name of the kernel module is so I can
>> unload
>> it:
>>
>> $ zcat /proc/config.gz | grep -i pegasus
>> CONFIG_USB_PEGASUS=y
>
> it is not a module, but compiled in. You have to rebuild your
> kernel. And
> probably decrapify your config a lot.

Doh! I was fairly tired when I wrote that, sorry.

I tend to just occasionally copy the kernel .config from that used on
the latest Knoppix disk, and `make oldconfig` between times. I figure
I don't know enough about the kernel that I'm likely to be able to
select a better set of options than that, and learning what to change
will surely not produce improvements worth the time expended.

I would love a recommended "default" kernel .config - either for
Gentoo or Linux in general, but based towards on "small server" use -
but I'm not aware of anyone publishing one. I like the notion of a
small, minimal and "sleek" kernel, but with lots of modules available
to load as necessary, should I install a new PCI card. If anyone has
any low-overhead suggestions, I would love to hear them.

Stroller.

volkerarmin at googlemail

Nov 7, 2009, 4:10 PM

Post #6 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

On Sonntag 08 November 2009, Stroller wrote:
> On 7 Nov 2009, at 11:32, Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:
> >> ...
> >> I'd love to know what the name of the kernel module is so I can
> >> unload
> >> it:
> >>
> >> $ zcat /proc/config.gz | grep -i pegasus
> >> CONFIG_USB_PEGASUS=y
> >
> > it is not a module, but compiled in. You have to rebuild your
> > kernel. And
> > probably decrapify your config a lot.
>
> Doh! I was fairly tired when I wrote that, sorry.
>
> I tend to just occasionally copy the kernel .config from that used on
> the latest Knoppix disk, and `make oldconfig` between times. I figure
> I don't know enough about the kernel that I'm likely to be able to
> select a better set of options than that, and learning what to change
> will surely not produce improvements worth the time expended.
>
> I would love a recommended "default" kernel .config - either for
> Gentoo or Linux in general, but based towards on "small server" use -
> but I'm not aware of anyone publishing one. I like the notion of a
> small, minimal and "sleek" kernel, but with lots of modules available
> to load as necessary, should I install a new PCI card. If anyone has
> any low-overhead suggestions, I would love to hear them.
>
> Stroller.
>

using a livecds kernel is probably the worst decision out there.

http://www.kroah.com/lkn/

as you can see, you don't have to download it.

Or just do it step for step, reading help files.

seccomp? Except Andrea Arcangeli nobody uses it. Can be deactivated. I2O?
Almost nobody uses it. Especially not 'commodity' hardware, out it goes. Numa?
Do you have a multi-socket system? No? Then you don't need it. ... you can
remove a lot of cruft that way. Namespaces - you don't need it? Kick 'em out.
Group scheduling? Sure, a great way to reduce performance...

...

stroller at stellar

Nov 7, 2009, 4:24 PM

Post #7 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

On 8 Nov 2009, at 00:10, Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:
> ...
> using a livecds kernel is probably the worst decision out there.
>
> http://www.kroah.com/lkn/
>
> as you can see, you don't have to download it.
>
> Or just do it step for step, reading help files.
>
> seccomp? Except Andrea Arcangeli nobody uses it. Can be deactivated.
> I2O?
> Almost nobody uses it. Especially not 'commodity' hardware, out it
> goes. Numa?
> Do you have a multi-socket system? No? Then you don't need it. ...
> you can
> remove a lot of cruft that way. Namespaces - you don't need it? Kick
> 'em out.
> Group scheduling? Sure, a great way to reduce performance...

But Volker, if it takes me an hour to decrapify my kernel config and
make it faster, it will probably take 1000 years for those speed
improvements to pay off.

If I had unlimited time then I would love to read that book. I really
LIKE the idea of decrapifying my kernel config. But realistically, any
time I spend on it is time wasted, for which no difference will be
appreciable.

Stroller.

volkerarmin at googlemail

Nov 7, 2009, 4:50 PM

Post #8 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

On Sonntag 08 November 2009, Stroller wrote:
> On 8 Nov 2009, at 00:10, Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:
> > ...
> > using a livecds kernel is probably the worst decision out there.
> >
> > http://www.kroah.com/lkn/
> >
> > as you can see, you don't have to download it.
> >
> > Or just do it step for step, reading help files.
> >
> > seccomp? Except Andrea Arcangeli nobody uses it. Can be deactivated.
> > I2O?
> > Almost nobody uses it. Especially not 'commodity' hardware, out it
> > goes. Numa?
> > Do you have a multi-socket system? No? Then you don't need it. ...
> > you can
> > remove a lot of cruft that way. Namespaces - you don't need it? Kick
> > 'em out.
> > Group scheduling? Sure, a great way to reduce performance...
>
> But Volker, if it takes me an hour to decrapify my kernel config and
> make it faster, it will probably take 1000 years for those speed
> improvements to pay off.
>
> If I had unlimited time then I would love to read that book. I really
> LIKE the idea of decrapifying my kernel config. But realistically, any
> time I spend on it is time wasted, for which no difference will be
> appreciable.
>
> Stroller.
>

I am not you, but I need maybe 5min for a config ;)

and there are more benefits. Smaller binary, more cpu cache free for real data.
Better performance lies that way. Also, you don't have to wonder about
processes you did not start. Security is also a point. A smaller codebase in
use is a saver codebase in use. A lot of bugs only affect kernels with certain
features turned on - it is very relaxing if you don't have that feature...

rdalek1967 at gmail

Nov 7, 2009, 10:55 PM

Post #9 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:
> On Sonntag 08 November 2009, Stroller wrote:
>
>> On 8 Nov 2009, at 00:10, Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:
>>
>>> ...
>>> using a livecds kernel is probably the worst decision out there.
>>>
>>> http://www.kroah.com/lkn/
>>>
>>> as you can see, you don't have to download it.
>>>
>>> Or just do it step for step, reading help files.
>>>
>>> seccomp? Except Andrea Arcangeli nobody uses it. Can be deactivated.
>>> I2O?
>>> Almost nobody uses it. Especially not 'commodity' hardware, out it
>>> goes. Numa?
>>> Do you have a multi-socket system? No? Then you don't need it. ...
>>> you can
>>> remove a lot of cruft that way. Namespaces - you don't need it? Kick
>>> 'em out.
>>> Group scheduling? Sure, a great way to reduce performance...
>>>
>> But Volker, if it takes me an hour to decrapify my kernel config and
>> make it faster, it will probably take 1000 years for those speed
>> improvements to pay off.
>>
>> If I had unlimited time then I would love to read that book. I really
>> LIKE the idea of decrapifying my kernel config. But realistically, any
>> time I spend on it is time wasted, for which no difference will be
>> appreciable.
>>
>> Stroller.
>>
>>
>
> I am not you, but I need maybe 5min for a config ;)
>
> and there are more benefits. Smaller binary, more cpu cache free for real data.
> Better performance lies that way. Also, you don't have to wonder about
> processes you did not start. Security is also a point. A smaller codebase in
> use is a saver codebase in use. A lot of bugs only affect kernels with certain
> features turned on - it is very relaxing if you don't have that feature...
>
>

I agree. When I first installed Gentoo I had never built a kernel or
even run make menuconfig. It took me three tries to get a bootable
kernel but it was worth it. I don't put something in my kernel that
isn't needed or that I use, well except for NTFS support. I may have to
rescue my brother one day. Point being, you only have to build one good
kernel then you can copy and run make oldconfig after that. I'm with
Volker on this, 5 minutes at most once you get a good build. If you
know your system really well, you may can start from scratch and config
one in that time.

You really need to learn to make your own kernel. After all, it's the
first file your computer loads when the OS starts booting up. It's also
the first level of security. It is what deals with all the hardware on
the most basic level.

You also get to see your head swell when you get a lean kernel and say
"I did that".

Dale

:-) :-)

lists at f_philipp

Nov 8, 2009, 2:10 AM

Post #10 of 40 (478 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

Volker Armin Hemmann schrieb:
> On Sonntag 08 November 2009, Stroller wrote:
>> On 7 Nov 2009, at 11:32, Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:
>>>> ...
>>>> I'd love to know what the name of the kernel module is so I can
>>>> unload
>>>> it:
>>>>
>>>> $ zcat /proc/config.gz | grep -i pegasus
>>>> CONFIG_USB_PEGASUS=y
>>> it is not a module, but compiled in. You have to rebuild your
>>> kernel. And
>>> probably decrapify your config a lot.
>> Doh! I was fairly tired when I wrote that, sorry.
>>
>> I tend to just occasionally copy the kernel .config from that used on
>> the latest Knoppix disk, and `make oldconfig` between times. I figure
>> I don't know enough about the kernel that I'm likely to be able to
>> select a better set of options than that, and learning what to change
>> will surely not produce improvements worth the time expended.
>>
>> I would love a recommended "default" kernel .config - either for
>> Gentoo or Linux in general, but based towards on "small server" use -
>> but I'm not aware of anyone publishing one. I like the notion of a
>> small, minimal and "sleek" kernel, but with lots of modules available
>> to load as necessary, should I install a new PCI card. If anyone has
>> any low-overhead suggestions, I would love to hear them.
>>
>> Stroller.
>>
>
> using a livecds kernel is probably the worst decision out there.
>
> http://www.kroah.com/lkn/
>
> as you can see, you don't have to download it.
>
[...]

You could also simply emerge it: app-doc/linux-kernel-in-a-nutshell ;)

Attachments:

signature.asc (0.25 KB)

rdalek1967 at gmail

Nov 8, 2009, 2:24 AM

Post #11 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

Florian Philipp wrote:
> Volker Armin Hemmann schrieb:
>
>> On Sonntag 08 November 2009, Stroller wrote:
>>
>>> On 7 Nov 2009, at 11:32, Volker Armin Hemmann wrote:
>>>
>>>>> ...
>>>>> I'd love to know what the name of the kernel module is so I can
>>>>> unload
>>>>> it:
>>>>>
>>>>> $ zcat /proc/config.gz | grep -i pegasus
>>>>> CONFIG_USB_PEGASUS=y
>>>>>
>>>> it is not a module, but compiled in. You have to rebuild your
>>>> kernel. And
>>>> probably decrapify your config a lot.
>>>>
>>> Doh! I was fairly tired when I wrote that, sorry.
>>>
>>> I tend to just occasionally copy the kernel .config from that used on
>>> the latest Knoppix disk, and `make oldconfig` between times. I figure
>>> I don't know enough about the kernel that I'm likely to be able to
>>> select a better set of options than that, and learning what to change
>>> will surely not produce improvements worth the time expended.
>>>
>>> I would love a recommended "default" kernel .config - either for
>>> Gentoo or Linux in general, but based towards on "small server" use -
>>> but I'm not aware of anyone publishing one. I like the notion of a
>>> small, minimal and "sleek" kernel, but with lots of modules available
>>> to load as necessary, should I install a new PCI card. If anyone has
>>> any low-overhead suggestions, I would love to hear them.
>>>
>>> Stroller.
>>>
>>>
>> using a livecds kernel is probably the worst decision out there.
>>
>> http://www.kroah.com/lkn/
>>
>> as you can see, you don't have to download it.
>>
>>
> [...]
>
> You could also simply emerge it: app-doc/linux-kernel-in-a-nutshell ;)
>
>

If he goes to that link provided earlier, he can scroll down and
download the pdf files. I found this to be the best page since it talks
about building a kernel in pretty good detail.

Chapter 4: Configuring and Building

It even has pictures to help give a clearer picture and even shows
different ways of doing the same thing. It even shows how to do this in
a GUI.

Do we really not have to do make modules_install any more?

Dale

:-) :-)

stroller at stellar

Nov 8, 2009, 1:20 PM

Post #12 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

On 8 Nov 2009, at 06:55, Dale wrote:
>> ...
>> I am not you, but I need maybe 5min for a config ;)
>>
>> and there are more benefits. Smaller binary, more cpu cache free
>> for real data.
>> Better performance lies that way. Also, you don't have to wonder
>> about
>> processes you did not start. Security is also a point. A smaller
>> codebase in
>> use is a saver codebase in use. A lot of bugs only affect kernels
>> with certain
>> features turned on - it is very relaxing if you don't have that
>> feature...
>
> I agree. When I first installed Gentoo I had never built a kernel or
> even run make menuconfig. It took me three tries to get a bootable
> kernel but it was worth it. I don't put something in my kernel that
> isn't needed or that I use, well except for NTFS support. I may
> have to
> rescue my brother one day. Point being, you only have to build one
> good
> kernel then you can copy and run make oldconfig after that. I'm with
> Volker on this, 5 minutes at most once you get a good build. If you
> know your system really well, you may can start from scratch and
> config
> one in that time.
>
> You really need to learn to make your own kernel. ...

Whilst I agree in principle that a good (slim?) kernel is better and
your comments on that, I am sceptical whether the majority of people
have the knowledge to make any significant performance or security
improvements.

AIUI the kernels shipped by distros like Red Hat, for instance, are
configured by the very people that work on and maintain the mainline
kernel tree. How can any of us simple end-users compete with that?

I imagine it to be very easy for any of us normal people to enable or
disable options that make significant performance impact - but we
would never know it, because we're not benchtesting it or even
qualified to assess proper benchtests.

I cannot believe that in a day you could study this subject
sufficiently to have any reasonable competence on the matter. And thus
if you do spend only a day, that's wasted time. I would add that the
kernel is evolving constantly, and in a year's time your knowledge -
and your .config - is likely to be at least somewhat outdated.

I chose to copy the .config from Knoppix because it's easy to get hold
of that, but also because it's selected by someone who knows more than
me, and it is likely to work with any hardware I install into my
machine or connect by USB. I take Volker's point that a LiveCD .config
_could_ be the worst possible choice so I'm open to alternatives, but
I hope those who say I should "learn to make your own kernel"
appreciate my points over how effectual that will be - sure, I can
delete my .config and start again with `make menuconfig` and I can go
through every option and read the help, and I'm sure I'll get just as
good results as 80% of the people on this list, but I just don't know
that that's much of an answer.

Stroller.

alan.mckinnon at gmail

Nov 8, 2009, 1:35 PM

Post #13 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

On Sunday 08 November 2009 23:20:31 Stroller wrote:
> > You really need to learn to make your own kernel. ...
>
> Whilst I agree in principle that a good (slim?) kernel is better and
> your comments on that, I am sceptical whether the majority of people
> have the knowledge to make any significant performance or security
> improvements.
>
> AIUI the kernels shipped by distros like Red Hat, for instance, are
> configured by the very people that work on and maintain the mainline
> kernel tree. How can any of us simple end-users compete with that?
>
> I imagine it to be very easy for any of us normal people to enable or
> disable options that make significant performance impact - but we
> would never know it, because we're not benchtesting it or even
> qualified to assess proper benchtests.
>
> I cannot believe that in a day you could study this subject
> sufficiently to have any reasonable competence on the matter. And thus
> if you do spend only a day, that's wasted time. I would add that the
> kernel is evolving constantly, and in a year's time your knowledge -
> and your .config - is likely to be at least somewhat outdated.
>
> I chose to copy the .config from Knoppix because it's easy to get hold
> of that, but also because it's selected by someone who knows more than
> me, and it is likely to work with any hardware I install into my
> machine or connect by USB. I take Volker's point that a LiveCD .config
> could be the worst possible choice so I'm open to alternatives, but
> I hope those who say I should "learn to make your own kernel"
> appreciate my points over how effectual that will be - sure, I can
> delete my .config and start again with `make menuconfig` and I can go
> through every option and read the help, and I'm sure I'll get just as
> good results as 80% of the people on this list, but I just don't know
> that that's much of an answer.

You are reading way more into the subject than is actually there.

Red Hat employees do work on mainline and do write kernel code. But finding a
bug, writing new code and fixing security exploits are very different
activities to simply configuring the code that is there. And that is what RH
do - they take the code that is already there, apply whatever backport and
experimental patches suits their distro, then go through menuconfig switching
some things on and some things off. Their needs are different to yours - they
need their kernel to run on just about any hardware on the planet, so they
build a horrendously complex initrd with support for every known boot device,
then build every module that even half-way works. And also enable every known
kernel sub-system (because someone somewhere is going to use it).

By your analogy, you might consider Red Hat more qualified than you to decide
if you should build an MTA with or without LDAP support. Which is of course
patently ridiculous - if you know you need LDAP then you need it. Otherwise
you don't (and this is not a security issue, it's a features issue)

If you configure your own kernel, you only need build the bits you use. The
sole benefit for a Gentoo users to using a custom distro kernel is support for
things not in mainline (like some entire FibreChannel product ranges out
there). But please note that even if you copy an RH .config, you do not have
those patches to hand so you will not get those extra features. Unless you
patched the ebuild yourself, in which case you are already au-fait with
building a kernel and we would not be having this discussion.

In summary, I hear your reasoning and understand your concerns. But it is
flawed and you are worried about something that is not actually there.

--
alan dot mckinnon at gmail dot com

rdalek1967 at gmail

Nov 8, 2009, 2:20 PM

Post #14 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

Alan McKinnon wrote:
> On Sunday 08 November 2009 23:20:31 Stroller wrote:
>
>>> You really need to learn to make your own kernel. ...
>>>
>> Whilst I agree in principle that a good (slim?) kernel is better and
>> your comments on that, I am sceptical whether the majority of people
>> have the knowledge to make any significant performance or security
>> improvements.
>>
>> AIUI the kernels shipped by distros like Red Hat, for instance, are
>> configured by the very people that work on and maintain the mainline
>> kernel tree. How can any of us simple end-users compete with that?
>>
>> I imagine it to be very easy for any of us normal people to enable or
>> disable options that make significant performance impact - but we
>> would never know it, because we're not benchtesting it or even
>> qualified to assess proper benchtests.
>>
>> I cannot believe that in a day you could study this subject
>> sufficiently to have any reasonable competence on the matter. And thus
>> if you do spend only a day, that's wasted time. I would add that the
>> kernel is evolving constantly, and in a year's time your knowledge -
>> and your .config - is likely to be at least somewhat outdated.
>>
>> I chose to copy the .config from Knoppix because it's easy to get hold
>> of that, but also because it's selected by someone who knows more than
>> me, and it is likely to work with any hardware I install into my
>> machine or connect by USB. I take Volker's point that a LiveCD .config
>> could be the worst possible choice so I'm open to alternatives, but
>> I hope those who say I should "learn to make your own kernel"
>> appreciate my points over how effectual that will be - sure, I can
>> delete my .config and start again with `make menuconfig` and I can go
>> through every option and read the help, and I'm sure I'll get just as
>> good results as 80% of the people on this list, but I just don't know
>> that that's much of an answer.
>>
>
> You are reading way more into the subject than is actually there.
>
> Red Hat employees do work on mainline and do write kernel code. But finding a
> bug, writing new code and fixing security exploits are very different
> activities to simply configuring the code that is there. And that is what RH
> do - they take the code that is already there, apply whatever backport and
> experimental patches suits their distro, then go through menuconfig switching
> some things on and some things off. Their needs are different to yours - they
> need their kernel to run on just about any hardware on the planet, so they
> build a horrendously complex initrd with support for every known boot device,
> then build every module that even half-way works. And also enable every known
> kernel sub-system (because someone somewhere is going to use it).
>
> By your analogy, you might consider Red Hat more qualified than you to decide
> if you should build an MTA with or without LDAP support. Which is of course
> patently ridiculous - if you know you need LDAP then you need it. Otherwise
> you don't (and this is not a security issue, it's a features issue)
>
> If you configure your own kernel, you only need build the bits you use. The
> sole benefit for a Gentoo users to using a custom distro kernel is support for
> things not in mainline (like some entire FibreChannel product ranges out
> there). But please note that even if you copy an RH .config, you do not have
> those patches to hand so you will not get those extra features. Unless you
> patched the ebuild yourself, in which case you are already au-fait with
> building a kernel and we would not be having this discussion.
>
> In summary, I hear your reasoning and understand your concerns. But it is
> flawed and you are worried about something that is not actually there.
>
>

What he said plus this little tidbit of info. When I built my first
kernel, I had no howto except for the basic instructions in the Gentoo
install guide. This was about 6 years or so ago and there was not a lot
on configuring a kernel except for the options Gentoo needed. It took
me three tries to get one to boot and work pretty well and all of a hour
at most. A lot of that hour was compiling the kernel.

You seem to think it takes a rocket scientist to build a kernel, it
doesn't. You just have to know what hardware you have and then enable
the features you need. Once you get a good one built, using make
oldconfig works really well. You can config a kernel in less than five
minutes most likely then compile and you are done. If you update fairly
regular, make oldconfig will work fine and not cause you the trouble you
had in the beginning.

Dale

:-) :-)

alan.mckinnon at gmail

Nov 8, 2009, 2:34 PM

Post #15 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

On Monday 09 November 2009 00:20:45 Dale wrote:
> What he said plus this little tidbit of info. When I built my first
> kernel, I had no howto except for the basic instructions in the Gentoo
> install guide. This was about 6 years or so ago and there was not a lot
> on configuring a kernel except for the options Gentoo needed. It took
> me three tries to get one to boot and work pretty well and all of a hour
> at most. A lot of that hour was compiling the kernel.
>

Three tries Dale? Only three?

You deserve a medal for that. My first attempt took at least 10 goes

;-)

--
alan dot mckinnon at gmail dot com

stroller at stellar

Nov 8, 2009, 2:41 PM

Post #16 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

On 8 Nov 2009, at 22:20, Dale wrote:
> ...
> You seem to think it takes a rocket scientist to build a kernel, it
> doesn't. You just have to know what hardware you have and then enable
> the features you need. ... You can config a kernel in less than five
> minutes most likely then compile and you are done.

Thus we get 30-post long threads titled "kernel build - back in the
soup".

Sure, I might on this occasion prefer that this pegasus driver wasn't
compiled statically into the kernel, but only because it _confused_ me
(nothing more). Far more frequently I want to install Linux on a new
box or plug in a new piece of hardware and not have to worry about
what driver it uses - I just want the module to be there and to auto-
load.

Any time I spend messing with obscure kernel config options is time I
could be spending reading a good book, instead [1].
Sorry, spending time configuring my kernel loses, as does this thread.

Stroller.

[1] Feel free to spend with your kids, lying on a beach, skiing, or
whatever, as alternatives.

alan.mckinnon at gmail

Nov 8, 2009, 2:51 PM

Post #17 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

On Monday 09 November 2009 00:41:08 Stroller wrote:
> Any time I spend messing with obscure kernel config options is time I
> could be spending reading a good book, instead [1].
> Sorry, spending time configuring my kernel loses, as does this thread.

And yet you use gentoo....

Considering what gentoo is and how one interfaces with it, should you not
rather be using a binary distro where someone else does the heavy lifting?
Something like Fedora, OpenSuse, Ubuntu?

--
alan dot mckinnon at gmail dot com

rdalek1967 at gmail

Nov 8, 2009, 3:02 PM

Post #18 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

Alan McKinnon wrote:
> On Monday 09 November 2009 00:20:45 Dale wrote:
>
>> What he said plus this little tidbit of info. When I built my first
>> kernel, I had no howto except for the basic instructions in the Gentoo
>> install guide. This was about 6 years or so ago and there was not a lot
>> on configuring a kernel except for the options Gentoo needed. It took
>> me three tries to get one to boot and work pretty well and all of a hour
>> at most. A lot of that hour was compiling the kernel.
>>
>>
>
> Three tries Dale? Only three?
>
> You deserve a medal for that. My first attempt took at least 10 goes
>
> ;-)
>
>
>

I didn't say it was perfect, I said it booted and worked pretty well.
Now getting the sensors, USB and some other odds and ends took a few
more. Once I got booted tho, I was ginning pretty good. You also have
to keep in mind, my system is not real complicated. Basically, chipset,
file system, and sound card to start with. USB was the fun one. I have
to have one USB driver for my printer and another for my camera. One is
the old style USB 1 and the other is USB 2 or something to that effect.

Point to the OP tho, once I had a good running kernel, make oldconfig
worked for years. I did have to build one from scratch a year or so
because things changed drastically and oldconfig got confused. So
basically, I have had to build from scratch twice in the last 5 or 6
years. I think that shows oldconfig works pretty good.

I do find this funny tho. Someone spends the better part of a day
installing Gentoo but doesn't think building their own kernel is worth
it. Most compiles take longer to finish than configing a kernel.

Dale

:-) :-)

zeerak.w at gmail

Nov 8, 2009, 3:08 PM

Post #19 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

On Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:02:34 +0100, Dale <rdalek1967 [at] gmail> wrote:

> Alan McKinnon wrote:
>> On Monday 09 November 2009 00:20:45 Dale wrote:
>>
>>> What he said plus this little tidbit of info. When I built my first
>>> kernel, I had no howto except for the basic instructions in the Gentoo
>>> install guide. This was about 6 years or so ago and there was not a
>>> lot
>>> on configuring a kernel except for the options Gentoo needed. It took
>>> me three tries to get one to boot and work pretty well and all of a
>>> hour
>>> at most. A lot of that hour was compiling the kernel.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Three tries Dale? Only three?
>>
>> You deserve a medal for that. My first attempt took at least 10 goes
>>
>> ;-)
>>
>>
>>
>
> I didn't say it was perfect, I said it booted and worked pretty well.
> Now getting the sensors, USB and some other odds and ends took a few
> more. Once I got booted tho, I was ginning pretty good. You also have
> to keep in mind, my system is not real complicated. Basically, chipset,
> file system, and sound card to start with. USB was the fun one. I have
> to have one USB driver for my printer and another for my camera. One is
> the old style USB 1 and the other is USB 2 or something to that effect.
>
> Point to the OP tho, once I had a good running kernel, make oldconfig
> worked for years. I did have to build one from scratch a year or so
> because things changed drastically and oldconfig got confused. So
> basically, I have had to build from scratch twice in the last 5 or 6
> years. I think that shows oldconfig works pretty good.
>
> I do find this funny tho. Someone spends the better part of a day
> installing Gentoo but doesn't think building their own kernel is worth
> it. Most compiles take longer to finish than configing a kernel.
>
> Dale
>
> :-) :-)
>

I can only speak for myself, but part of what makes the "gentoo
experience" for me is knowing that my kernel, software etc. is built to my
basic needs. And building and configuring a kernel really doesn't take as
much time as you might spend on various unnecessary pursuits (ie. reading
webcomics, articles that can wait, reading the news that'll be broadcasted
to you later through a tv-news programme). But as others have said, if
you're not interested in spending time on making it tick, and just want an
easy fix, then go for a binary distro.
Of course, if you decide to read the book, well then, there's the off
chance that you might just find it interesting and read it, not because it
can be useful, but because it sparks your interest.
And no, configuring a kernel from scratch doesn't (take me) 5 minutes, but
the half hour it does take, are well spent.
--
Zeerak

alan.mckinnon at gmail

Nov 8, 2009, 3:18 PM

Post #20 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

On Monday 09 November 2009 01:02:34 Dale wrote:
> I do find this funny tho. Someone spends the better part of a day
> installing Gentoo but doesn't think building their own kernel is worth
> it. Most compiles take longer to finish than configing a kernel.
>

Here's a funnier one:

I've actually seen posts from people who think nothing of running

emerge -e world

in an attempt to "fix" some perceived "problem". And they do it often. In the
next breath they say they prefer gedit because all that bash stuff is
complicated.

I dunno, I just don't. It looks too much like a mechanic who has deep issues
with the design of spanners.

--
alan dot mckinnon at gmail dot com

stroller at stellar

Nov 8, 2009, 3:21 PM

Post #21 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

On 8 Nov 2009, at 22:51, Alan McKinnon wrote:

> On Monday 09 November 2009 00:41:08 Stroller wrote:
>> Any time I spend messing with obscure kernel config options is time I
>> could be spending reading a good book, instead [1].
>> Sorry, spending time configuring my kernel loses, as does this
>> thread.
>
> And yet you use gentoo....
>
> Considering what gentoo is and how one interfaces with it, should
> you not
> rather be using a binary distro where someone else does the heavy
> lifting?
> Something like Fedora, OpenSuse, Ubuntu?

Not at all.

Are you taking this discussion combatively?

I like Gentoo, I'm used to it, familiar with it (at least fairly so),
I find it easy. When I've tried other distros I've found myself
wasting time for various reasons.

I find CLI configuration reassuring - this is basically why I switched
away from Windows - because at the command line I "know" that an
operation has performed successfully, instead of having to rely on a
checkbox which is supposed to work like magic.

I suspect that, ultimately, it's the USE flags that save me time. If I
have to recompile _by hand_ just one or two programs because a binary
distro doesn't include the options I need, or because it adds GUI
dependencies which I don't want "cluttering up" my headless server,
then that is probably a bigger waste of my time than using Gentoo.
Remember that if I do that I also have to manage those packages
manually, check for updates, worry about them getting clobbered by the
distro's own updates, have hassle when other installed packages demand
a dependency which I have fulfilled with this manual installation.

What do you think is demanding or time-wasting about Gentoo?

I just don't see why I should spend time messing with something, just
because you (or Volker or anyone, not to make this personal) doesn't
like the way it "looks". When it works perfectly!

Stroller.

stroller at stellar

Nov 8, 2009, 3:23 PM

Post #22 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

On 8 Nov 2009, at 23:02, Dale wrote:
> ...
> I do find this funny tho. Someone spends the better part of a day
> installing Gentoo ...

You're doing it wrong.

> ... Most compiles take longer to finish than configing a kernel.

I personally don't spend time sitting there watching the progress of
compilations. I run them, ignore them, so back when they're finished.

Stroller.

volkerarmin at googlemail

Nov 8, 2009, 3:28 PM

Post #23 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

first kernel I configured and 'maked' myself was 2.2.14 and I was scared. When
it finaly booted and everything worked I was overjoyed.

I wad even more overjoyed when it performed a lot better than Suse's 2.2.10...
which was a bit swap-happy.

volkerarmin at googlemail

Nov 8, 2009, 3:31 PM

Post #24 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

On Montag 09 November 2009, Harry Putnam wrote:
> Stroller <stroller [at] stellar> writes:
> > Any time I spend messing with obscure kernel config options is time I
> > could be spending reading a good book, instead [1].
> > Sorry, spending time configuring my kernel loses, as does this thread.
>
> I'm with you Stroller.
>
> Although I do have to admit and should admit since I'm OP on this
> thread. If I had of inserted the .config from running kernel. I
> would have been done on the first try.. The dozen or so questions were
> nearly all no answers. A few didn't default the way I wanted so I didn't
> accept the default... maybe two were like that.
>
> I fully agree with your point about what it really takes to `know' how
> to configure a kernel. People get a little too much mileage from the
> breezy ` I do it in 5 minutes' line. When all they really did was
> move the .config file.
>

configuring is easy.

enable the hardware you have.
disable the hardware you don't have.
read the help to all options that are default on - do you really need it?
Really?
read the help to all options that are off but might be usefull for you.
change when you know it better (ondemand in, userspace governor out,
performance default governor for example).

do it a few times, kernel configuring becomes very easy.

alan.mckinnon at gmail

Nov 8, 2009, 3:40 PM

Post #25 of 40 (477 views)
Permalink

Re: Re: decrapify your kernel config WAS: ps shows pegasus process running - what is it? [In reply to]

On Monday 09 November 2009 01:21:24 Stroller wrote:
> > And yet you use gentoo....
> >
> > Considering what gentoo is and how one interfaces with it, should
> > you not
> > rather be using a binary distro where someone else does the heavy
> > lifting?
> > Something like Fedora, OpenSuse, Ubuntu?
>
> Not at all.
>
> Are you taking this discussion combatively?
>

Not at all. I just find it odd that you use gentoo by choice, get to grips
with defining *exactly* what you need and want, take steps to do just that, do
it, and then don't do it with the kernel. In fact, you do the opposite.

--
alan dot mckinnon at gmail dot com

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