Need some advice on upgrading kernel via make-kpkg

davidas · 04-05-2004, 07:10 AM

From http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=2949&page=2

What is the reason behind creating a symbolic link called "linux" in :-

Step 7: (Creating a symbolic link called "linux", which points to "linux-2.4.20")
Finally, we can create a symbolic link called "linux" that will point to our new kernel source code, which is located in the "linux-2.4.20" directory. Enter "ln -s linux-2.4.20 linux" at the command line to create this symbolic link. If you type "ls -l" at the prompt, you should now see a symbolic link called "linux" that is pointing to the "linux-2.4.20" directory (or the directory for whichever version of the kernel you decided to download).

Is this step necessary?

Thanks !

TigerOC · 04-06-2004, 02:46 AM

I have not found it necessary with the make-kpkg but you would need it if later you want to compile other apps that need to reference the kernel source. Perhaps someone else can comment.

mrcheeks · 04-07-2004, 06:26 AM

it is necessary when you don't know why. check lilo.conf

Outabux · 04-07-2004, 11:08 AM

several drivers including nvidia's will look for the source, unless its there u'll have to do some fudging with its options to get it pointed in the right direction

it makes upgrades easier also, just rm -r linux, and redo ...

davidas · 04-07-2004, 07:02 PM

In my / directory, my vmlinuz is linked to my latest kernel.

david:/# ls -l vmlinuz
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 26 Apr 8 14:56 vmlinuz -> boot/vmlinuz-2.4.25.040801

Grub's menu.lst:

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.25.040801
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.25.040801 root=/dev/hda3 ro
savedefault
boot

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.25.040801 (recovery mode)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.25.040801 root=/dev/hda3 ro single
savedefault
boot

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.18-bf2.4
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.18-bf2.4 root=/dev/hda3 ro
savedefault
boot

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.18-bf2.4 (recovery mode)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.18-bf2.4 root=/dev/hda3 ro single
savedefault
boot

However, as shown above, if I boot into the older kernel 2.4.18-bf2.4, the vmlinuz will be pointing to the wrong directory? Will that have any effect?

Thanks !