Star Linux: Reboot Like a Racecar with kexec
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Thu 16th Oct 2008 22:08 UTC, submitted by diegocg
Linux Kexec is a feature that allows to boot kernels from a working kernel. It was originally intended for use by kernel and system developers who had to reboot several times a day. Soon, system administrators for high-availability servers found use for it as well. As systems get more and more advanced, and boot times get longer, end users can now benefit from it.
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segedunum
Member since:
2005-07-06

One cited example of a driver problem from the example is sufficient evidence that "most" problems will be with proprietary drivers? Come on.

Well yes, logically they will. The good thing about open source drivers shipped with a kernel is that those drivers are tested with that kernel as one whole and their overall quality and stability is kept up to a reasonable level as a result. If a driver presents a problem then an awful lot of people are going to know about it. With binary add-on drivers you have no guarantee whatsoever what will happen, and that approach kind of negates the point of this - being able to boot up reliably fast.

I'm glad that I didn't have to wait longer than the first comment for someone to fire up the Microsoft bashing. I hate having to read through 8 or 10 insightful, clever comments to get to the Microsoft h4te.

Pity Microsoft. They don't have a kernel and driver infrastructure that allows them to be able to do useful stuff like this, and like it or lump it, when you get to the common denominator, being able to do this reliably relies on the integrity of the kernel and drivers and ultimately having the source available.

It's just a shame that we will have to sit through endless reboots of new drivers and patches.

Edited 2008-10-17 12:53 UTC

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