Understanding Kernel Choice

[fordiebianco]

Dear All,

apologies for the basic sounding question. Do we have a choice in the kernel we use? As far as I can tell, the current version of the linux kernel I am using is an ayufan modified version of Allwinner's BSP. Is this similar to Sunxi's current kernel and does one version have benefits over the other?

Many thanks for our help.

FB

[MarkHaysHarris777]

Do we have a choice in the kernel we use? As far as I can tell, the current version of the linux kernel I am using is an ayufan modified version of Allwinner's BSP. Is this similar to Sunxi's current kernel and does one version have benefits over the other?

Most of the kernel work is based one way or the other on longsleep's work (Simon Eisenmann) with much of the follow-on work by lennyraposo and ayufan;  and other players.

The kernel is BSP (mainline is on the way) from Rod Nussbaumer:

Assuming you mean ‘Board Support Package’. A BSP is a collection of code typically provided by a hardware vendor that allows an OS and often some userspace applications or libraries to run correctly on the vendor’s hardware. The acronym ‘BSP’ applies generically to OSs in general, and implies nothing Linux-specific. 

Hope this helps;  

[Luke]

Further to what Mark said, indeed there is a mainline kernel in the works but there will also be an updated BSP kernel (4.4) sometime in the future - Its said to be released in sep/oct - but I would't hold my breath

As for benefits of our current kernel (3.10.10x) - its the most feature-complete kernel for the Pinebook as of today.

[fordiebianco]

Thanks Chaps.

Helpful as ever.

FB