[NTLUG:Discuss] Commercial linux support options

[Thomas Cameron (Red Hat)]

David Stanaway wrote:
> Thanks for the input guys.
> Kind of what I thought.
> 
> Novel is politically incorrect where I am at - leaves RHEL or a 
> different vendor.
> 
> How much of a pain are custom kernel builds in RHEL? Do roll your own 
> kernels burn your support?

If you need something that is not in the stock kernel, we will strongly 
recommend that you compile it as a dynamic kernel module and insert it 
into the stock kernel.  That way if you have a problem with that module 
it is really easy to track while you still use the fully supported Red 
Hat provided kernel.

Most folks who think they need a new kernel for RHEL change their mind 
when they learn that we backport the vast majority of feature updates 
from new kernels to the older RHEL kernels, but we do it in such a way 
as to guarantee kernel API/ABI compatibility so your third party 
software never knows that the kernel has changed.

-- 
Thomas Cameron, RHCE, RHCI, CNE, MCSE, MCT
Solutions Architect Team Lead, Central Region
512-241-0774 office 512-585-5631 cell 512-857-1345 fax

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