Ultra Frosty Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 Downloading and installing the kernel The new kernel is quite easy to find and download. Follow these steps. 1. First, become root (use the: su command in a shell) 2. Go to The Linux Kernel Archives. 3. Download the Linux 2.6.xx kernel and save it to your /usr/src directory. 4. As root, run the following commands in the console. (Note: This assumes you've installed your Linux distribution with all the developer options. If you haven't, take a look at your distribution's website for more information on 2.6 kernel packages you can download.) tar -zxvf linux-2.6.xx.tar.gz cd linux-2.6.xx make menuconfig After your machine takes a bit of time to compose the menus, you should see the Linux kernel menu system. The menu gives you the ability to choose which options are included in your kernel. After choosing these options, you'll be able to compile your kernel. Compiling the kernel First, type in the following. make bzImage If you use LILO as your boot manager, then type the following. make install If you configured your kernel to use modules, which many people want to do, you'll need to type in the following command. make modules make modules_install Hurry up and wait If it's your first time building a kernel, keep the boot disk from the first time you installed your OS. It'll come in handy if you did something wrong when configuring your kernel! Building the kernel can take a lot of time, depending on your machine's specs. Think in terms of at least a half-hour and you won't be far off. It's a big plate of spaghetti for your computer to munch on, so be patient. The good news is that Linux is great at multitasking, so you can go surf the Web while the kernel compiles. And have fun! Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keldyn Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 Not a bad guide. Perhaps if you could include a run down on the recommended options in the Linux Kernel Menu system? For newbies this can be a very daunting process. Remember. Always aim your guide towards first time users. Keep it as simplified as possible. Step by step instructions are a must! Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1854897 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dessimat0r Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 You should really symlink linux-* to linux using ln -s /usr/src/linux-* /usr/src/linux first. I'm not sure if you break module compatability by not doing it. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1854910 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+John Teacake MVC Posted March 18, 2004 MVC Share Posted March 18, 2004 tar -xzvf linux-2.6.0.tar.gz for that bit my linux file is a .bz2 file ? Im a total noob at linux here and ive just decided to give this recompiling thing a go. Can anyone help me ? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1854992 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercuryx013 Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 Use jxvf instead of zxvf Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1855046 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+John Teacake MVC Posted March 18, 2004 MVC Share Posted March 18, 2004 I get Unexpected EOF in archive error Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1855065 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaKeY Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 I thought the one I posted here was a little more indepth. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1855184 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kongit Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 A couple of things: 1) you want to untar the file with tar -xvjpf linux.whatever or tar -xvzpf linux.whatever It keeps the permissions correct. I don't know if the p is necessary for compiling and using, but it is a good practive for kernels 2) With the latest 2.6 kernels you only need to type make after the menuconfig. It will make the bzlmage and the modules. then type make modules_install 3) You don't need to symling to /usr/src/linux. This is for the kernel headers. Actually it is advisable to have this linked to an older 2.4 kernel or a 2.4 header set for backwards compatibility. It will not mess up compiling anything if you set it to a 2.4 kernel. However the 2.6 kernel's headers are slightly different than normally expected by the compiler and its libraries. 4) you can run make install for both lilo and grub if they are set right. 5) For the menuconfig I suggest that you get a listing of all your hardware on a piece of paper and make sure that it is very detailed. Additionally you need to check with the distro to make sure that you don't need to add in extra stuff to make that distro work right. I know you need to with gentoo. 6) lastly if you don't choose make install to install the kernel, don't overwrite the last one. and if you choose make install it will over write the last kernel installed if it has the same name. For example if you have installed a 2.6.3 kernel and want to change some things and don't do anything to the kernel source (ie add patches) and re make the 2.6.3 kernel and choose make install the original 2.6.3 kernel will be replaced with the newer one. However you can change this in the make file in the base kernel source directory. it is in the extraversion options. I suggest you patch the kernel source to see what I am talking about because most patches will change the append on the end of the image files and system map files. 7) I am sorry if I confused anyone. Compiling your own kernel isn't difficult. However you have to make sure you configure it correctly in the menuconfig. Wierd things can happen, and at worse a kernel panic. But these are all fixable. Try to have another kernel for just in case your new one fails. Then you can boot with it at lilo or grub and you can fix whatever error you made. I get Unexpected EOF in archive error Most likely you downloaded a bad kernel source. download a new one and try again. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1855241 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornett Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 What about generate-modprobe.conf? I've always had to do that in order to get everything working. Remember that you have to specify the output of the modprobe.conf file to the /etc dir tho. Also I found make gconfig better than menuconfig, but I guess that is a matter of personal taste. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1855242 Share on other sites More sharing options...
HellBender Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 Did you write that guide? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1855254 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+John Teacake MVC Posted March 21, 2004 MVC Share Posted March 21, 2004 (edited) I did all that and i dont see any difference. Edit : As far as i know its still using my old (2.4) kernel. How do i tell it to use the new one ive just installed ? Any help would be greatly appricated. Edited March 21, 2004 by Sawyer12 Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1867594 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaKeY Posted March 21, 2004 Share Posted March 21, 2004 from the console type uname -a Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1867656 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+John Teacake MVC Posted March 21, 2004 MVC Share Posted March 21, 2004 That just tells me what version kernel im using. It says its using the 2.4 version. Is there any way of telling Linux to use the 2.6 version ive just installed ? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1867676 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultra Frosty Posted March 21, 2004 Author Share Posted March 21, 2004 You have to restart your system Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1868006 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+John Teacake MVC Posted March 21, 2004 MVC Share Posted March 21, 2004 Yeah Done that and theres no change :( Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1868023 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornett Posted March 21, 2004 Share Posted March 21, 2004 Make install should of updated lilo or grub for you. What distro are you using? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1868047 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+John Teacake MVC Posted March 21, 2004 MVC Share Posted March 21, 2004 Redhat, So are there any commands to use to tell linux to use the 2.6 kernel. Its created the 1.6 file in the /usr/src directory. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1868067 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornett Posted March 21, 2004 Share Posted March 21, 2004 I'm not an expert but, like I think that like I said, make install will usually update grub for you so that the new kernel is listed on the statup menu. For example here is my /etc/grub.conf file: # grub.conf generated by anaconda # # Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file # NOTICE: ?You do not have a /boot partition. ?This means that # ? ? ? ? ?all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /, eg. # ? ? ? ? ?root (hd0,4) # ? ? ? ? ?kernel /boot/vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/hda5 # ? ? ? ? ?initrd /boot/initrd-version.img #boot=/dev/hda default=0 timeout=10 splashimage=(hd0,4)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz title Fedora Core (2.4.22-1.2174.nptl) root (hd0,4) kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.22-1.2174.nptl ro root=LABEL=/ hdd=ide-scsi rhgb initrd /boot/initrd-2.4.22-1.2174.nptl.img title Fedora Core (2.4.22-1.2115.nptl) root (hd0,4) kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.22-1.2115.nptl ro root=LABEL=/ hdd=ide-scsi rhgb initrd /boot/initrd-2.4.22-1.2115.nptl.img title Windows XP rootnoverify (hd0,0) chainloader +1 You see I have two different linux kernel entries (2.4.22-1.2174.nptl?& 2.4.22-1.2115.nptl)? You could try manually adding the new kernel to the grub.conf file but to me it sounds like the install has not worked properly as it has always done this itself for me. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1868076 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+John Teacake MVC Posted March 21, 2004 MVC Share Posted March 21, 2004 So if i just tryed make_install again what would happen Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1868122 Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Geek Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 For LILO try running the $lilo command from the terminal see if this adds the kernel to your config Alternate ----------- 1.Assumes that you have "root" or "sudo" Take a look in the "/boot" partition or file path depending on how you partitioned your drive. use the following from your terminal of choice $ls -F /boot See what you have got there and double check that with your grub.conf file. <snip> kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.22-1.2174.nptl ro root=LABEL=/ hdd=ide-scsi rhgb initrd /boot/initrd-2.4.22-1.2174.nptl.img title Fedora Core (2.4.22-1.2115.nptl) root (hd0,4) </snip> Your output from the "ls" command should be able to be matched to one of your kernel entries, ie.. If you have kernel named vmlinuz-2.4.22-1.nptl in your config file you should also have a file named vmlinuz-2.4.22-1.nptl in your "/boot" directory. If for some chance your kernel image is not listed in your "/boot" directory search for it then move it to your /"boot" directory manualy. #Update your locate database $updated #Search for the kernel image $locate vmlinuz-2.6.* | less See what you can find, use the up & down cursor keys to navigate to the end of the results or until you find what you are looking for, if you find the kernal image then move it to the "/boot" directory. $mv -r /file.name/path/to file /boot Repeat the above steps for the initrd image. Now double check that your conf file and your kernel images line up. Restart the box to see if you get an option for the kernel at boot. Hope this helps, The_Geek Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1949426 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juan4Ever Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 i did this question in other thread, but i guess i can repeat it here too because are pretty the same post... wich is the diference in set to Built-in or Module on the kernel configuration when you enter the make menuconfig command? that's all. thanks Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1960891 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kongit Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 built-in compiles the part into the kernel. modules compiles the part as an externel module that can be loaded or unloaded at any given time given the correct circumstances. Some parts need to be compiled in otherwise you risk a kernel panic, most doesn't and you need to experiment with those to determine the optimum settings for your computer. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1960995 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornett Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 Kongit - is there any speed advantage to using modules over compiled-in or do I have that back to front? Specifically I'd like to improve the boot speed of the kernel as currently it takes 5 or 10 secs before my services etc start. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1961020 Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbomonkeycock Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 I got a kernel panic :oops: :D Couldnt mount the hard drive or something, which i imagine is pretty serious :p Im sure it just needs a little bit more care and adaptation from me, and i'll try later, but if anyone has any tips that would be appreciated. Oh, by the way, im using SuSE and have been told that i shouldnt of just compiled 2.6.0 randomly and needed a SuSE-adapted kernel. How correct is this? Sounds a load of rubbish to me Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1961398 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kongit Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 Kongit - is there any speed advantage to using modules over compiled-in or do I have that back to front? Specifically I'd like to improve the boot speed of the kernel as currently it takes 5 or 10 secs before my services etc start. It depends. I for one have noticed no speed increase on boot with the exception of usb. I use hotplug (almost all distros do) so only the usb stuff that is plugged in at boot will be loaded. If you get your kernel properly configured and the modules that are supposed to load at boot properly configured then you will probably have the best in time for boot. However boot times for a normal linux user shouldn't matter as you stay booted for long periods of time. It shouldn't make a difference between compiling in or as modules if everything is configured correctly for boot speed. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/149758-a-guide-to-recompiling-the-kernel/#findComment-1961463 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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