Specialized kernel/base system for VM's/VE's

[Nicolas Michel]

Hello,

I don't think you'll see a that lightweight kernel in distributions like
Ubuntu. But saying that, you probably don't know how the Linux kernel work:
most of the functions of the kernel (except core functions) can be compiled
directly into the kernel or compiled as a module. Distributions like Ubuntu
are mostly using module when available. With modules, when your computer
need a function that is not in the kernel core it loads the related module
into the memory.

Conclusion: the only thing modules takes is disk space (try a du -sch
/lib/modules to know how much) but not memory or other ressources until
they are loaded.

So, compiling a very lightweight kernel (much more that the Ubuntu one) is
possible. You can do it following tuto on the net. But it doesn't make
sense on a VM. It only makes sense on embeded hardware where each megabytes
is good to save.


2012/9/24 Enrico Weigelt <enrico.weigelt at vnc.biz>

> Hi folks,
>
>
> is anyone currently working on optimized/minimized kernel
> and base packages for VM's ?
>
> My goal is having a really minimized base system for VMs
> and VEs, which don't have anything that's really needed
> there (eg. VEs dont need all the kernel related stuff,
> VMs just only those parts which are really required for
> running in an virtio-based environment, etc, etc).
>
>
> cu
> --
> Mit freundlichen Grüßen / Kind regards
>
> Enrico Weigelt
> VNC - Virtual Network Consult GmbH
> Head Of Development
>
> Pariser Platz 4a, D-10117 Berlin
> Tel.: +49 (30) 3464615-20
> Fax: +49 (30) 3464615-59
>
> enrico.weigelt at vnc.biz; www.vnc.de
>
> --
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-- 
Nicolas MICHEL
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