Kernel Configuration - Part XXXI

Kernel Configuration - Part XXXI

We’re closing in on the end of the kernel configuration series. We have just a few configuration-specific topics to touch on and a couple days of instructions and tips for rebuilding the kernel you’ve configured over the past several weeks.

Today’s topic is Bluetooth support. Bluetooth is, according to Foldoc, “A specification for short-range radio links between mobile computers, mobile phones, digital cameras, and other portable devices.” Specifically, Bluetooth is a wireless connectivity protocol created by Ericsson in 1998, and designed with a shorter range than 802.11b.

What’s the advantage of a shorter range? Bluetooth-enabled devices consume much less power than 802.11b devices. This can be a critical difference for laptops, cell phones and PDAs, manufacturers of which have all shown interest in Bluetooth. At the time of its creation, Bluetooth was hailed as “the next great thing” in wireless connectivity, but recently seems to have slowed or stalled in
the face of the much more powerful 802.11b protocol. Manufacturers have, as well, found other means of minimizing power consumption in wireless devices and, as a result, the primary advantage of Bluetooth has become less relevant.

Need I say more? If you’re configuring a kernel that will need to communicate with a Bluetooth-enabled device, you’ll clearly need Bluetooth support. There are still few enough of the devices that, by default, the kernel does not support them. And, as with the other kernel configuration sections, choosing Bluetooth support will allow you to further select the devices for which you need the support. It’s safe to say that if you need Bluetooth capabilities, you’ll know it, and will be able to make the kernel configuration work to support these devices.

Tomorrow, we’ll leave the hard configuration section behind with a look at kernel hacking. Tuesday, we’ll get down to brass tacks in the kernel configuration series - compiling the kernel you’ve configured.