Applying undervolting patches

[Scott J. Henson]

David Abrahams wrote:
> Andrew Barr <andrew.james.barr at gmail.com> writes:
> 
>> I think you should look into the undervolting patches available for the
>> Linux kernel to get the equivalent of NHC. Look at ThinkWiki for more
>> information.
> 
> Okay, doing that now, over the 2.6.17 kernel which by all accounts is
> much better for speed and low power consumption.
> 
> One thing I don't know how to evaluate: am I better off with a
> "vanilla" kernel, or should I be using the one from the ubuntu edgy
> eft repository.  Obviously (?) ubuntu is patching the kernel in some
> way; are those patches important to the correct operation of my
> existing ubuntu installation?  I find plenty of HOWTOs out there from
> people using vanilla kernel sources
> (e.g. http://doc.gwos.org/index.php/Kernel_Compilation_Dapper) so I
> presume the differences aren't critical... but if they're not, why
> does ubuntu bother with them at all?
> 

Ubuntu applies bug fixes and other stability improving
patches to its kernel.  This is due to the way linux 2.6
development has been proceeding.  Generally speaking, your
going to find your system more stable if you stick to kernel
Ubuntu provides.

Also, back porting kernels is kind of a project due to the
changes in the kernel build structure from release to
release.  Ive back ported kernels before, and I must say
that it is a pain.

In my opinion you may be better served by waiting the 2
months for edgy to come out.  I'm not sure how much battery
life you're expecting to gain, but you need to weigh that
against the loss in stability and ease of use (someone else
has mentioned that Ubuntu provides a lot of driver
integration).

Now, having said that, it is possible to build a kernel and
have it managed by apt and friends.  There exists a package
called kernel-package that was built for building kernels
into a deb automagically.  I haven't used it since my old
days in Debian and initial forays into Ubuntu, but I would
expect it to work still.  I used to follow the bleeding edge
on kernels to get the latest and greatest, but Ive grown
mundane in my old age and count stability and not having to
waste time building kernels over any perceived gain on the
bleeding edge.

-- 
Scott Henson
LCSEE Systems Staff
WVU MAE Undergraduate
Ubuntu User