kernel compile times (was: SGI workstation sequence)

[Allison]

>
>Subject: Re: kernel compile times (was: SGI workstation sequence)
>   From: "Ethan Dicks" <ethan.dicks at gmail.com>
>   Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:01:02 +1300
>     To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
>
>On 10/24/07, Richard <legalize at xmission.com> wrote:
>>
>> In article <471E85C0.4050703 at gmail.com>,
>>     Sridhar Ayengar <ploopster at gmail.com>  writes:
>>
>> > My compile on the VAXstation 2000 was at least a few days.  Maybe a week.
>>
>> Are we talking *just* the kernel here, or are we talking compiling a
>> full distribution (all the utility programs, shell programs, X server,
>> X clients, etc.).
>>
>> I have a really hard time believing it takes a few days *just* to
>> compile the kernel.  Toss in the huge pile of additional programs
>> accessible from the shell or the X Window System and now we're talking
>> believable.
>
>Sridhar can answer for the details of his VS2000, but in my case, the
>two machines I have the most experience with are the 11/750 and
>11/730, and Ultrix 1.1 (4.2BSD under the hood, IIRC).  It may be that
>I didn't do a complete compile from source, just a kernel rebuild of
>drivers and affected areas from the installation process, and it may
>be that the disk on a VS2000 is vastly slower than Unibus and IDC
>disks on the 11/750 and 11/730, respectively.  I do stand by my 8-10
>hour kernel compile time after an initial install of the OS on a blank
>disk for those machines - if my memories have not entirely
>disintegrated, it took all of a long work day to install Ultrix, but
>not more than one.

Under VMS:
A VS2000 that is light on ram and the page and swap files are small 
will be very slow, it will swap it's brains out.  The differnce from 
a 6MB untuned and 12MB or more machine that is tuned without Decwindows
running is far more than one might imagine.  I managed to hack one
for two RD54s (using a second box under it) and put the page and swap 
on the second drive and it does help. A base Ultrix install from TK50
was slow but it seems the TK50 was as much to blame for that.

If memory serves you could get to 14MB in a VS2000 IF you can get the
right card.

Allison

>
>-ethan