Re: Why did SuSE choose NOT to take the path of RedHat?

From: Chris Cox (ccox_nopenotthis_at_airmail.net)
Date: 01/13/05 

Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 14:58:52 -0600

Joseph Dionne wrote:
> I hope this question is appropriate for this group, forgive me if it is
> not.
>
> Per RedHat, link http://www.redhat.com/software/rhel/kernel26/, their
> Enterprise product line is a hybrid kernel, with the strength of a
> "stable" 2.4 kernel (2.4.21) yet the advances released in the 2.6 kernel.
>
> Does this sound kosher? Does any have issues or concerns with this
> approach? Can any one provide information (links) to either support
> this approach, or recommend against creating hybrid kernels?
>

Please note that Red Hat is comparing a stock 2.4 implemenation with
their new 2.4 implementation. SUSE like Red Hat (and SUSE for much, much
longer) has incorporated enterprise needed features into their kernels.
Red Hat "hacked" NPTL into 2.4 for their RHEL 3 release. SUSE was
already working on getting a 2.6 enterprise release out the door.
No need to hack NPTL into a back rev'd kernel since they were doing 2.6.
Red Hat laughed and said that it was STUPID for anyone to use 2.6.
Of course, as we speak, RHEL 4 is about to come out WITH that
"unstable" 2.6 kernel that Red Hat was warning people against.

It's all just political panderings.

In general "hybrid"... (read CUSTOM)... kernels are a good thing.
This is one area where distributions can strive to out perform
each other.

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