Feature changed by: Jan Engelhardt (jengelh) Feature #305694, revision 10 Title: Separate Desktop / Server Kernels openSUSE-11.2: Unconfirmed Priority Requester: Important Requested by: Dean Hilkewich (deanjo13) Interested: Andrey Karepin (egdfree) Interested: Bernhard Friedreich (bernhard1234) Interested: Robert Munteanu (robert_munteanu) Interested: Stephan Kleine (bitshuffler) Interested: Vasiliy Astanin (madcad) Interested: Vasiya G. Znaydyuk (-karlson-) Interested: Victor Prosolin (prosolin) Partner organization: openSUSE.org Description: It seems to me that the current default kernels are somewhat hurting openSUSE's performance perception. Current kernel configs are OK but are not very well suited for desktop usage. In the future I would like to see a kernel package that is optimized for desktop usage. Current timer settings and no preemption really (sometimes drastically) hurts openGL performance and applications such as wine and causes alot of issues such as audio studdering. It would be nice to see a separate desktop performance kernel package with options such as Preemption model set to Preemptable Kenel (low-latency Desktop) and Timer Frequency Set to 1000 Hz, HPET support, Tickless System, disable optimize for size, disable Control Group support and disable Group CPU scheduler. You could also disable items and modules that are extremely rare in a desktop environment such as ATM support, Infiniband etc etc as these are not typically used in a desktop scenario which would be a large majority of openSUSE users. Further performance enhancements would also be done through out the system aimed at desktop use as well such as disabling barriers (even making it a simple checkmark option in the partitioner). Such optimizations for desktop usage can overcome openSUSE's reputation as being slower then the other mainstream distro's. The kernel settings alone can make up to a 30-40% increase in framerates in wine games for example and can cure alot of hiccups in multimedia apps. Discussion: #1: Bernhard Friedreich (bernhard1234) (2009-01-18 15:25:11) wow.. I didn't know about that facts.. I vote for that one! (running both a server and multiple notebooks on openSUSE) + #2: Jan Engelhardt (jengelh) (2009-01-19 09:48:49) + So why do not you use the RT kernel if your problems are that bad? + Also, HPET and tickless is already enabled if you have not noticed. If + you suggest disabling Optimize For Size, then I disclaim that you know + all of the facts. A smaller kernel results in less instructions to + fetch and run, and as such, less execution time to complete a given + task. Unless you have specific numbers that an unloaded ATM module + slows down your daily operations, it is not going to go away just + because you think it is responsible for speed issues. Because as I read + the source, it seems to me that it merely introduces one test and + branch to the IPv4 ARP code, and that is just so small it is ridiculous + to debate about. I do however, would want to see the kernel package + being split up so as to have drivers that "probably are not" desktop- + related in this decade, like ATM, in a separate installable package. -- openSUSE Feature: https://features.opensuse.org/?rm=feature_show&id=305694