docs/84154: Handbook somewhat off in use of /boot/kernel.old

[John Baldwin]

The following reply was made to PR docs/84154; it has been noted by GNATS.

From: John Baldwin <jhb at FreeBSD.org>
To: freebsd-doc at FreeBSD.org, garys at opusnet.com
Cc: FreeBSD-gnats-submit at FreeBSD.org
Subject: Re: docs/84154: Handbook somewhat off in use of /boot/kernel.old
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 07:52:05 -0400

 On Wednesday 27 July 2005 01:57 am, Gary W. Swearingen wrote:
 > >Number:         84154
 > >Category:       docs
 > >Synopsis:       Handbook somewhat off in use of /boot/kernel.old
 > >Confidential:   no
 > >Severity:       non-critical
 > >Priority:       low
 > >Responsible:    freebsd-doc
 > >State:          open
 > >Quarter:
 > >Keywords:
 > >Date-Required:
 > >Class:          doc-bug
 > >Submitter-Id:   current-users
 > >Arrival-Date:   Wed Jul 27 06:00:32 GMT 2005
 > >Closed-Date:
 > >Last-Modified:
 > >Originator:     Gary W. Swearingen
 > >Release:        FreeBSD 5.4-RELEASE i386
 > >Organization:
 >
 > none
 >
 > >Environment:
 >
 > n/a
 >
 > >Description:
 >
 > The handbook's concept of /boot/kernel always being moved to
 > /boot/kernel.old is wrong (in two places).  The move is only
 > made if the currently running kernel came from /boot/kernel/.
 >
 > >How-To-Repeat:
 >
 > n/a
 >
 > >Fix:
 >
 > -- In section 8.3 Building and Installing a Custom Kernel,
 >
 > change
 >    The new kernel will be copied to the /boot/kernel directory as
 >    /boot/kernel/kernel and the old kernel will be moved to
 >    /boot/kernel.old/kernel.
 > to
 >    The new kernel and modules will be copied to the /boot/kernel directory
 >    but that directory will first be moved in place of /boot/kernel.old
 >    if the currently running kernel came from "/boot/kernel".
 
 How about:
 
 
 The new kernel and modules will be copied to the /boot/kernel directory.  I=
 f=20
 the currently running kernel came from "/boot/kernel", then the old kernel=
 =20
 and modules will be moved to the /boot/kernel.old directory.
 
 > -- In section 8.6, under "The kernel does not boot",
 >
 > change
 >              You cannot rely on
 >              kernel.old because when installing a new kernel,
 >              kernel.old is overwritten with the last installed kernel
 >              which may be non-functional.
 > to
 >              Standard kernel builds write to /boot/kernel, with
 >              that directory first moved in place of /boot/kernel.old
 >              if the currently running kernel came from /boot/kernel.
 
 I haven't read the full doc for context, but it looks like the replacement=
 =20
 text doesn't actually replace the same meaning.  The reason for kernel.old=
 =20
 only getting updated if the kernel being installed is running is to try to=
 =20
 make kernel.old more reliable as in theory it should always be a kernel tha=
 t=20
 was running well enough to do an installkernel now.  Probably the surroundi=
 ng=20
 section here needs more updating to reflect that larger change.
 
 =2D-=20
 John Baldwin <jhb at FreeBSD.org> =A0<>< =A0http://www.FreeBSD.org/~jhb/
 "Power Users Use the Power to Serve" =A0=3D =A0http://www.FreeBSD.org