[Ilugc] why vmlinuz ?
- From: ganesh@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (ganesh@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)
- Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 01:09:39 -0400
"MP" == Manikanda Prabhu <manikandaprabhu_m@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
MP> <P> hi, why do we use the convention vmlinuz for kernel
MP> image ? who started it ? what is that vm ? <BR>
If memory serves me right[0], originally UNIX had it's kernel
named as unix. It was later renamed to vmunix when virtual memory was
added to the kernel's feature list.
Following this tradition, the linux kernel was called vmlinux. The
'z' is because the kernel is gzipped. If your machine is any better
than a 486, your kernel is always bzipped rather than gzipped nowadays
(and hence, make bzImage.)
peace,
Ganesh
[0] I have this really old book from the early-80's on unix which
definitely should have more information on this. I can check this
out if you want me to.
--
Ganesh Swami
http://www.sfu.ca/~gswamina/
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