Re: [PATCH 2/6] x86/boot: Move compressed kernel to end of decompression buffer

From: Ingo Molnar
Date: Fri Apr 29 2016 - 05:51:42 EST



* Ingo Molnar <mingo@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> * Kees Cook <keescook@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > I don't agree. We do still have embedded systems running x86 kernels, and we
> > have cases where we're running multiple kernels in memory (like kdump). I think
> > the memory savings is worth the complexity, especially since the complexity is
> > being reduced up by this patch. [...]
>
> Hm, so can we quantify it, how much are the temporary memory savings in practice?
> I'd like to see actual vmlinuz numbers with say a defconfig and with a distro
> config.

Btw., with the extra explanations added to the changelog I am happy with the
series and have applied it to x86/boot and pushed it out. If we decide to simplify
the code it will be much easier to simplify correctly working, well documented
code.

It would be nice to do another pass at the in-code comments and at the general
code structure, to make sure all this is properly explained and structured.

Thanks,

Ingo