i386 vs i686 was Configured kernel source code ... What is it

[Craig White]

On Wed, 2005-07-13 at 11:27 -0700, G Gambill wrote:
> Chasing down the CentOS 4 USB WiFi thing I found (on the laptop) a dir/file:
> 
>   /usr/src/2.6.9-5.0.3.EL-hugemem-i686
>   /usr/src/2.6.9-5.0.3.EL-i686
>   /usr/src/2.6.9-5.0.3.EL-smp-i686
> 
> I am fairly sure the Laptop in question is a Pentium III (WinBook XL3).  I
> have always used the i386 flavor.
> 
> I ran a locate -u followed by locate 0.3.EL   and it finds only i686 (no
> i386).
> 
> Question, do I care?  It seems to run without problems.
> 
> I have downloaded the i386 source.
> 
> Should I consider compiling the i386 kernel?
----
I still think...

1 - you don't need to compile a kernel, only the module. Every time you
want to upgrade kernel, you are gonna have to relive the experience.

2 - that getting a USB wifi device working is hard work, you're gonna
need to hack udev stuff as well.

3 - laptop uses pcmcia cards and there are several which use Prism or
Orinoco chip sets which just work out of the box.

Craig