[olug] Custom kernels

Mike Hostetler thehaas at matrix.binary.net
Thu Sep 27 13:30:41 UTC 2001


On Thu, Sep 27, 2001 at 08:16:33AM -0500, Mike Peterson wrote:
> 
> Has anyone had any problems upgrading to the latest kernels when the come
> out?

The only problems I've ever had is going from 2.2.x to 2.4.x.  When I change
versions in 2.4 (or when I did in 2.2), it was a snap.  The trick?  This
only works when you have built a kernel before . . 

1.) Install the new kernel sources, but do not over-write or remove the
existing one (important, since things can go wrong, and you are better off
using an older kernel that works, as opposed to a new kernel gone wrong).

2.) Copy the .config file from the old sources to the new sources -- should
be in the top-level directory.

3.) In the new kernel, do a 'make menuconfig' (or 'make xconfig', whichever 
you want to use).  Don't change anything -- just save, and the new config
will be written (why do you have to do this???  I'm not sure, but it only
works that way).

4.) Compile normally, or run 'make menuconfig' again to change settings.

The biggest problem I had from 2.2. to 2.4 was the fact that the config
files are different, so I had to put in a lot of config changes for 2.4.

> Which distribution is most used by the list members that use the 2.4 kernel?
> Debian or Redhat or Mandrake or Slackware or TurboLinux or SUSE or Corel or
> Caldera or others.

I use SuSE 7.1, which was the first SuSE that was "2.4" ready.  However, I
use a different version of the 2.4 kernel that shipped with it (2.4.3 I
think . . . . I'm not at my machine so I can't say). Current SuSE is 7.2.  I 
recommend it -- I haven't upgraded to 7.2 because I've been really happy 
with 7.1, but 7.2 looks solid.

Hope my rambling helps . . .

Mike


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

For help contact olug-help at bstc.net - run by ezmlm
to unsubscribe, send mail to olug-unsubscribe at bstc.net
or `mail olug-unsubscribe at bstc.net < /dev/null`
(c)2001 OLUG http://www.olug.org

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_




More information about the OLUG mailing list