Messages in this thread | | | Date | Wed, 12 Sep 2007 03:50:17 -0400 (EDT) | From | "Robert P. J. Day" <> | Subject | stripping down the kernel-parameters.txt file |
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while killing some time between compiles and ridding the kernel-parameters.txt file of out-of-date or incorrect cruft, it occurs to me that that file is borderline valueless since it apparently tries to document every possible boot-time parameter, including those associated with individual modules. that's just silly.
it would make far more sense if that file restricted itself to just those parameters that you'd consider fundamental or basic -- those defined with one of "__setup()" or "early_param()" that would apply to most users.
instead, you find stuff like this (a random example):
bttv.card= [HW,V4L] bttv (bt848 + bt878 based grabber cards) bttv.radio= Most important insmod options are available as kernel args too. bttv.pll= See Documentation/video4linux/bttv/Insmod-options bttv.tuner= and Documentation/video4linux/bttv/CARDLIST
not to belittle the bttv module but, really, is that information worthy of being recorded in the top-level parms.txt file? and if you're going to be consistent, you'd want to do that for every single module and its respective throughout the tree, at which the parms.txt file collapses under its own weight from forever being updated and has so much information that it's impossible to find the useful stuff.
i suggest that that file record only the basic boot-time params, and the documentation for module-specific parameters be moved closer to the module source itself. there's no point in that poor file trying to keep up with all of the module development in the tree.
rday
p.s. and, while we're at it, folks might like to start replacing the calls to "__setup()" in their driver code with the newer module parameters mechanism. it's just a thought. :-)
-- ======================================================================== Robert P. J. Day Linux Consulting, Training and Annoying Kernel Pedantry Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA
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