[Gllug] Custom kernels

[Grzegorz Jaskiewicz]

On Tue, 30 Sep 2003, Henrik Morsing wrote:

> IBM has been shipping linux kernels with their own features in them for a
> while and now RedHat starts selling distributions (source: today's IT
> week) with customised kernels.
> 
> Is this a good or bad trend? Will RedHAt end up being the next MicroSoft
> that sells Linux systems that forces you to stay with RedHat? (Well I
> suppose they can do that since it's open software but still).
> When does Linus become redundant?
He is already, his code is no more than 50% of whole kernel (without 
drivers). Or even less.

It is quite normal practice. Whenever i make my own kernel, i do take some 
patches from redhat and suse kernels because they simply resolve some 
problems. E.g. : SuSEs patches for reiserfs. Since Suse pay for reiserfs 
developement, they have some minor errors corrected that are not corrected 
in vannilia kernels. (i don't want to argue now, if it is really true - 
but it looks like it is).
Redhat also does a good job, removing some errors present in vannilias.
Both companies are contribute a lot to kernel development. The same thing 
about IBM. It is just that they want their own product to be as good as 
possible. 

For instance KDE is patched before going to any distro, but some ppl 
contribute to KDE others don't. Redhat does not, and this is a bad 
practice. Suse employes at least 2 ppl fulltime working on KDE, and this 
is a good thing (tm). Suse also develop many drivers (ISDN) and ALSA in 
kernel. Redhat employes or pay many kernel developers.

So as you can see, this is full symbioze. And this is the very best way 
for free software to gain from bussinesses that gain from free software 
:-)

--
GJ


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