x86_64_defconfig and i386_defconfig: What is the difference?

[Valdis.Kletnieks at vt.edu]

On Tue, 09 Sep 2014 16:06:07 +0200, Matthias Brugger said:

> > Can someone tell me if the i386 one is to be used when we want to build for
> > a 32bit machine and the x86_64 is to be used for 64 bit machine?
>
> You can build the kernel with any architecture for any architecture.
> This is called cross-compiling. The homepage [0] should explain you how
> to do that.

Right, but you still need to use a .config appropriate for the target
machine, which is what I think Rajat was asking about.

A defconfig is usually only known verified to boot on a few (possibly one)
examples of that architecture hardware.  For embedded ARM, it may be one
specific development board or hardware device.  For x86, I think they try
to keep it "will probably kind of sort of boot on generic PC hardware with
a common distro, but anything fancylike a webcam or better graphics than
"vga tty emulation" may not work".

A defconfig is pretty much just a proof of concept starting point for
an actual working config for a given hardware system.
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