From: Rich Holm 


Only if you install the kernel from source.  I run RedHat so usually I
install the updated RPMs they provide.  Updating shared libraries does not
require a reboot.  Just kernel updates.  If you build the kernel from
source and load most drivers as modules, you can then patch the driver,
recompile, unload the modules, and then reload the module without a reboot.
 Unfortunately, not all modules can be unloaded.

Cheers,
Rich



In article , georger{at}nls.net says...
> I agree with the statement about windows, but I seem to remember /m saying
> something about a 6 hour recompile on his BSD system to update something or
> other. Does Linux ever require a recompile that takes longer than a reboot?
>
> Geo.
>
> "Rich Holm"  wrote
in message
> news:MPG.189e7608a1121f4b989950{at}news.barkto.com...
> >
> > Windows still requires way too many reboots to install/update software.
> > Linux only really needs a reboot when the kernel gets updates... and
> > even then there are ways around it.  Thing have gotten better, but MS
> > needs to improve in this area.  Hell, changing your desktop font
> > still (in XP) requires a reboot.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Rich
>
>
>
>

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