Guide to 2.6 kernel upgrade/recompile

Worksman · 09-05-2005, 09:29 AM

I have the felling that this thread is too old and people can find/ignore it!
I would be just fine if some one would build a new Kernel How-to thread on compiling and resolving dependencies on modules gest so everyone could get help on compiling. Then it would be GREAT if some HACKERS would build a ALSA how-to so I CAN GET HELP TOO!!!

Greg Mink · 09-20-2005, 12:15 PM

I've added a sound card to an existing debian 3.1 box and it fails to work, xmms complains that /dev/dsp does not exist. I'm running the precompiled 2.6 kernel from debian, what do I do to creat the /dev/dsp and other audio devices? MAKEDEV isn't cutting it.....

m_yates · 09-21-2005, 12:28 PM

Did you try running "alsaconf"? If you don't have alsa installed, try running "apt-get install alsa-base" then "alsaconf". Probably you don't have the module for the new soundcard because it is using the old configuration. The alsaconf script should configure the new soundcard and use the correct module unless you do not have the module for the new soundcard compiled for your kernel.

jsi386 · 10-10-2005, 03:22 PM

Hi, I didn't read all the replies.. only about 4 pages worth, after your post.

I'd like to recompile aswell, but not to 2.6.7

I'm thinking more along the lines of 2.6.13.3 with the Debian Logo at boot and the small text as well

So, any help on that would be nice

m_yates · 10-11-2005, 10:24 AM

You should be able to follow a similar procedure. You can install the latest kernel from debian unstable (2.6.11 I believe) and use the debian source for kernel 2.6.11 to patch and customize it.

If you want to install 2.6.13, you will have to patch the source with Debian patches before following the same procedure I wrote. There are no Debian pactches for 2.6.13, but you could try using the patches for 2.6.8 that are in the repository. I haven't tried this myself, so I don't know if it will work. It depends on how much the kernel source has changed from 2.6.8 to 2.6.13.

Good Luck!

Matty-J · 10-14-2005, 09:16 AM

Hey all,

I've tried following the directions to compile/install the 2.6.12 kernel from source, and am able to do everything until the make-kpkg part. I get an error saying something to the effect of "make-kpkg: command not found" (I'm at work atm, so can't give you the exact message)

Is there a special package I need for make-kpkg?

Thanks,
Matt

m_yates · 10-14-2005, 11:30 AM

You probably need to install kernel-package:

Code:

apt-get install kernel-package

ptesone · 10-15-2005, 05:50 PM

This is a great post and I've got it to work before in debian using gnome,
now I have a fresh install of debian using KDE this time,
and I do fine with these instructions upto this point:

Code:

make menuconfig

I get this error:

Code:

debian:/usr/src/linux# make menuconfig
  HOSTCC  scripts/basic/fixdep
  HOSTCC  scripts/basic/split-include
  HOSTCC  scripts/basic/docproc
  SHIPPED scripts/kconfig/zconf.tab.h
  HOSTCC  scripts/kconfig/conf.o
  HOSTCC  scripts/kconfig/mconf.o
scripts/kconfig/mconf.c:91: error: static declaration of 'current_menu' follows non-static declaration
scripts/kconfig/lkc.h:63: error: previous declaration of 'current_menu' was here
make[1]: *** [scripts/kconfig/mconf.o] Error 1
make: *** [menuconfig] Error 2

has anyone else ran into this problem?

debianmike · 10-15-2005, 05:59 PM

If you receive some an error message rather than a build menu you should run "apt-get install libncurses5-dev"

ptesone · 10-15-2005, 06:18 PM

libncurses5-dev is already installed. . .

Javasnob · 10-27-2005, 02:47 PM

I followed your guide to the letter, and I've tried it with the 2.6.7, 2.6.8, and 2.6.13 sources, but no matter what I do, I always get the same kernel panic (The error itself is in bold, the rest is for context):

Code:

VFS: Mounted root (cramfs filesystem) readonly.
Freeing unused kernel memory: 424K freed
initrd-tools: 0.1.82
mount: unknown filesystem type 'devfs'
umount: devfs: not mounted
mount: unknown filesystem type 'devfs'
umount: devfs: not mounted
pivot_root: No such file or directory
/sbin/init/: 432: cannot open dev/console:  No such file
Kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill init!

If anyone could offer some insight as to how I could fix this, I would appreciate it VERY much. Thanks!

m_yates · 10-27-2005, 04:11 PM

Did you use Debian kernel sources?

Javasnob · 10-27-2005, 05:58 PM

I couldn't do make menuconfig with the Debian kernel sources:

m_yates · 10-27-2005, 08:55 PM

You need libncurses-dev installed to do "make menuconfig". Try:

Code:

apt-get install libncurses5-dev

I think the problem you are having is because you are trying to use non-debian kernel sources with the debian initrd. Try opening synaptic and searching for "kernel-source". Right now, the full source of kernel 2.6.11 is available, and patches are available for kernel 2.6.12. If you want 2.6.12, you can manually apply the debian patches to the original kernel source from kernel.org, then proceed as I described in my original post. Good luck

dookie_the-terrible · 11-08-2005, 12:33 PM

I run a dual boot IBM T43 laptop with XP (For work) and Deb 3.4 The T43 has ATI graphics and ATA hard disk. It took sometime to setup the graphics, but 2.4 work very well, no problems. Now there is a great new driver for the graphics, I had to upgrade to 2.6 to use it though. So I upgraded via apt-get and nada, it would no boot. In fact I messed with it so much I have ruined my Linux partition, so I decided to re-install from the base cd. So on CD boot up I choose ‘Linux26’ to get the 2.6 kernel and all looks well until its time to configure the HD. If one presses F6 there are several different option to install special hard disk controllers, however ATA is not in there. I tried all of them! Anyone got past the HD install?

I have been told one can use the SCSI drivers and disable the DMA access in the BIOS, then re-try the install, then re-enable the DMA access, but this did not work, 2.6 will not recognize the HD, DMA on or off. Any ideas will be most welcome.