[Rule-list] Re: The init sequence, and why fetch mail and shutdown.

[chris clark]

-----Original Message-----
From: Marco Fioretti <address@hidden>
To: address@hidden
Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 05:24:29 +0200 
Subject: [Rule-list] The init sequence

----- Forwarded message from chris clark <address@hidden> -----


>The biggest slowdowns in boot times seem to be XFS (font server), kudzu, and 
>the depmod -a .

I agree. Kudzu and depmod -a should be removed altogether from init
sequence: how often does one adds hardware? 
--------------------------------------------------
Seldom, but these things might be reasonable to 
have as the default (hands off) in lilo.
That way, if a hardware change screws up keyboard or 
mouse, a reboot will do the right thing.
It should be possible to have a fast boot as well as
a thorough one.
------------------------------------------------

Have you read the init
sequence page on the web site?
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I poked around a bit, downloaded the archive, and am 
trying to get up to speed. I read the page on init, but
I'm a bit concerned that many users won't know how
to do depmod or kudzu unless it's very clear, and
in any event, I think lilo options might be the
slickest way to do things.


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>One could even have options for specific tasks like "boot in console 
>mode,start a ppp session, 
>run fetchmail to grab my new mail, and then halt."
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Yes, but why grab mail and not read it immediately? Could you
elaborate a bit on this?

This thought was prompted by the memory of a VERY smug
AOLer I met in a campground. He had asked to use the 
phone line in the campground office to check his mail,
promising to tie up the line for only a short while.
He was very proud of being able to dial in and grab 
all of his mail for later reading back at his campsite.

A more common scenario might be getting up, booting my
laptop with the "get mail" option, and getting ready
for work while it downloads my mail and shuts down.
(shutdowns on a 486-25 aren't instant, althought the
fewer processes started, the fewer need to be stopped.)
This way I could just power it off as I head out the door, and read mail later 
in the day. Ideally, I could
compose replies as well, to be sent the next time I
connect.


Just brainstorming here, not demanding features :)