kernel compile times (was: SGI workstation sequence) - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

23 Oct 2007

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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

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-ethan 