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Bug 97051

Summary: sys-kernel/genkernel-3.2.0_pre11 changes .config file
Product: Gentoo Hosted Projects Reporter: Alon Bar-Lev (RETIRED) <alonbl>
Component: genkernelAssignee: Gentoo Genkernel Maintainers <genkernel>
Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX    
Severity: enhancement    
Priority: High    
Version: unspecified   
Hardware: All   
OS: Linux   
Whiteboard:
Package list:
Runtime testing required: ---

Description Alon Bar-Lev (RETIRED) gentoo-dev 2005-06-25 10:06:13 UTC
I like to use genkernel, it saves me a lot of work.

I tried to compile a kernel with all features as modules... But I failed... I
noticed that genkernel modify the .config file regardless what I configure.

For example at gen_configkernel.sh there is the following command:
sed -i ${KERNEL_DIR}/.config -e 's/#\? \?CONFIG_EXT2_FS[ =].*/CONFIG_EXT2_FS=y/g'

I did not expect genkernel to modify any setting...

Reproducible: Always
Steps to Reproduce:
1. genkernel --menuconfig
2. Select ext2 as module.
3. Save and exit.
4. Compilation will fail... (Since you change only one variable)

Actual Results:  
ext2 cannot be compiled as module.

Expected Results:  
Minimal: Please consider adding --do-not-touch-config and avoid modify the
.config file.

Maximal: Please consider copying the required modules to the initramfs and
modprobe... If the user selects them as modules. :)
Comment 1 Tim Yamin (RETIRED) gentoo-dev 2005-06-27 14:36:23 UTC
We're not going to implement --do-not-touch-config since some things *have* to
be on for anything to remotely work. The ext2/3 issue you bring up is valid
however, and we do need to disable that check if you are generating an initramfs
image.
Comment 2 Alon Bar-Lev (RETIRED) gentoo-dev 2005-06-27 23:28:49 UTC
I am glad!!!
I suggested the --do-not-touch-config since it was the simplest way to go (not
the best...)

1. As I understand genkernel always depends on initrd... right?
If I specify the bzImage or kernel it just to reduce time for compilation.

2. Please consider to analyze the .config file and warn or error when invalid
options were detected... So that the user may change this him-self.

Thanks Again!
Comment 3 Alon Bar-Lev (RETIRED) gentoo-dev 2005-06-28 03:44:23 UTC
I've seen what you done in pre14.
It is fine for me!

But I still think that modifying the .config cause advanced users to lose
control... So my last request is to consider --strick that warns the user if
genkernel is not happy with configuration... without modifying it.
Comment 4 Eric Edgar (RETIRED) gentoo-dev 2005-07-12 12:09:31 UTC
If you wish to add that behavior that is fine please send us a patch.  However
we would get more bug reports stating genkernel is broken if we do not enable
the few options that we do.  The only options currently are for dmraid/lvm
modules to be compiled for that filesystem support.