RHCE2B.COM Kernel Recompilation Study Guide

References

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Why Recompile the Kernel?

What You need to begin

rpm -ivh binutils*.rpm
rpm -ivh cpp*.rpm
rpm -ivh dev86*.rpm
rpm -ivh gcc*.rpm
rpm -ivh glibc-devel
rpm -ivh kernel-headers.*.rpm
rpm -ivh kernel-source.*.rpm
rpm -ivh make
rpm -ivh ncurses
rpm -ivh ncurses-devel

Note: Red-Hat's kernel source is slightly different than the code you will find at kernel.org. Unless you have some compelling reason not to, you should use Red Hat's version.

Building the Kernel

If you check, linux-2.4 should be a symbolic link to the newest version of the kernel source code. For example, on my machine, it it a link to linux-2.4.9-31.

make mrproper

This command gets rid of anything that may have been left over from pevious builds of the kernel.

Now you have a choice of configuration programs to use.

I usually start with make "old config" and then do a "make xconfig".

What should I change when configuring the Kernel?

What do I do after configuring the Kernel?

this sets up all the dependencies correctly

make clean

This cleans up the source directory.

Setting up the EXTRAVERSION flag

EXTRAVERSION = -31

Change it to read something like this:

EXTRAVERSION = -31-randy

This will be the name for our new kernel. If you named the kernel exactly the same thing as the kernel you currently boot up with, you would risk screwing up your current configuration. Hence you should name it something unique.

Building the Kernel

This builds the actual kernel. It is found in /usr/src/linux-2.4/arch/i386/boot/bzImage

make modules

This creates all the Kernel modules

make modules_install This installs the modules.

Mkinitrd

mkinitrd 2.4.9-31-randy

How do I install the Kernel?

If you are using GRUB, add the following lines:

title Red Hat Linux (2.4.9-31-randy)
        root (hd0,1)
        kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.9-31-randy ro root=/dev/hda6
        initrd /initrd-2.4.9-31-randy.img

If you have LILO, then add the following lines, substituting the correct value for you root partition:

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.9-31-randy
        label=linux-2.4.9-31-randy
        initrd=/boot/initrd-2.4.9-31-randy.img
        read-only
        root=/dev/hda6

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