I'm trying to compile a Linux kernel to debug an issue I have on Arch Linux, and I was configuring modules, but I didn't know what a lot of the stuff was so I left them on. If this kernel works I plan to keep it, but would all those extra modules slow the system down or will it load up only when they are needed?
Is it bad to have too many Kernel modules?
linux kernel;performance;kernel modules
While you won't notice any performance improvement (assuming you build your kernel with the modules you actaully require), there is some benefit in removing unneeded modules: first, it can significantly reduce the compile time and secondly, it will reduce the size of the final kernel. Creating a .config with make localmodconfig is a good way to get your feet wet. See the Arch Wiki for the traditional compilation approach.