Forum Home
Press F1
 
Thread ID: 22623 2002-07-26 00:38:00 Linux, Windows 2000 kernels Nigel Thomson (629) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
65481 2002-07-26 00:38:00 As part of an assignment I need to find the size of the kernels for both linux and win2k, I can't find anything on win2k kernel and the linux stuff I find tends to be in the form of lines of source code, all i need is the size in kbs, and if anyone knows of a good site on the internals of O/Ss ie explaining threads, processes, scheduling etc. please let me know as I can't seem to find one. I currently use webopedia, whatis.com, techterms and even howstuff works which are all good but none gives a complete overview, Thats all.
sorry about the length of it
Nigel Thomson
Nigel Thomson (629)
65482 2002-07-26 03:57:00 Nigel,

The Linux kernel has to specific size.
It depends on what drivers / functions were selected when it was created.
e.g I have 3 2.4.18 linux kernels on my laptop and they are all different sizes.

win2k's kernel is called kern32 or something similar I think..

I dont really know of any sites which compare this sort of thing - but im sure a search on google would come up with a couple.
ctonks (746)
65483 2002-07-26 04:55:00 Windows "kernel" is perhaps misleading as well, as it should include all the dll's and these depend on what is installed? godfather (25)
65484 2002-07-26 05:18:00 To add to the confusion, most Linux kernels are around the 500 kB, plus/minus a few hundred. But that's almost always a self-extracting compressed file. I haven't look at the uncompressed size for a long time; I tend to to a "make clean" after I have compiled the kernel. I *think* it's a bit over 1 MB. There is the useful bonus that the self-extracting file is a floppy disk image: use dd or rawrite and you have a floppy which will boot Linux. Let's see you do that with W2k. ;-) Graham L (2)
65485 2002-07-26 06:57:00 My just compiled 2.4.17 is 2.2mb uncompressed (814kb compressed). That includes most of the drivers I use compiled in. bmason (508)
65486 2002-07-26 07:04:00 That's what you get for using the later versions. ;-) But still, that's pretty good, since that is all that's needed to get a prompt on the screen. I keep a linux floppy in my bag. It's the best "what is in this computer box" disk. Finds everything, even disks which aren't registered in BIOS. Graham L (2)
65487 2002-07-27 01:01:00 Thanks for all your help
I have located most of the information I need, although if anyone can recommend a good site explaining the inner workings of Operating systems It would still come in very handy.
Nigel Thomson
Nigel Thomson (629)
65488 2002-07-27 04:38:00 There are a few text books around. I know roughly how operating sytems work, because I've been working with them since about 1974. But I've learned it by reading manuals, and writing code.

There's a book (online) about the Linux kernel. Have a look at The Linux Kernel (dunedin.lug.net.nz).

If you look up a level at that site, you will find the rest of the guides. But most will be too detailed or irrelevant for you.
Graham L (2)
65489 2002-07-27 05:42:00 A good site for how Linux works can be found at:

plg.uwaterloo.ca
JohnD (509)
1