[SOLVED] compile a new kernel in RHEL 5

vikas027 · 02-03-2008, 10:06 PM

Hi all,

I need some help in compiling a new kernel. I am using RHEL 5 with kernel version 2.6.18.

I have downloaded a kernel from link [HTML]http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/linux-2.6.20.6.tar.bz2[/HTML]

Code:

1. cd /usr/src
2. wget -c http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/linux-2.6.20.tar.bz2
3. tar xvfj linux-2.6.20.tar.bz2
4. cd linux-2.6.20
5. make clean && make mrproper
6. make menuconfig
7  make clean
8. make bzImage
9. make modules
10. make modules_install
11. mkinitrd /boot/initrd-2.6.20.img 2.6.20

I am following this article [HTML]http://www.digitalhermit.com/linux/Kernel-Build-HOWTO.html#CONFIGURATION-2-6[/HTML]

I have completed these steps (till 10) with no errors, BUT when I am trying the 11 th step, no new kernel img file is found.
It only has the old file i.e initrd-2.6.18.img.

Also, few parameters in the make menuconfig are bit confusing, it would be really great if someone has any ebook regarding the parameters.

Pls help !!

Thanks in Adv.
Vikas

Lenard · 02-04-2008, 05:54 AM

Well you been reading old information, the steps in order are;

make mrproper
make oldconfig (this will get you very close to a working kernel as supplied by Red Hat)
make menuconfig (or config or xconfig);this is where one can tweak the configuration
make
make modules_install
make install

Sorry, no ebook but one can download the 'Linux kernel in a netshell" here (direct link);

http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kern...a_nutshell.pdf

vikas027 · 02-05-2008, 10:11 PM

Hi Lenard,

THANKS A TON.

your steps really helped me.

Regards,
Vikas

Lenard · 02-06-2008, 06:13 AM

Your welcome, glad to help.

FYI: they are not my steps they all come from reading "The Linux kernel in a nutshell"

asutherlandus@yahoo. · 02-06-2008, 08:28 AM

I'm trying to build kernel 2.6.18-53.1.6.el5-x86_64

rhel5 on amd64.

I get the following error from make mrproper:

scripts/Makefile.clean:17: /usr/src/kernels/2.6.18-53.1.6.el5-x86_64/drivers/infiniband/hw/amso1100/Makefile: No such file or directory
make[3]: *** No rule to make target `/usr/src/kernels/2.6.18-53.1.6.el5-x86_64/drivers/infiniband/hw/amso1100/Makefile'. Stop.
make[2]: *** [drivers/infiniband/hw/amso1100] Error 2
make[1]: *** [drivers/infiniband] Error 2
make: *** [_clean_drivers] Error 2

I removed and reinstalled the kernel src and still get the same error.

thanks for your sugestions,
Andrew

Lenard · 02-06-2008, 09:16 AM

Why???? Are you sure you don't really just need to install the kernel-devel rpm package??

Maybe something like: yum install kernel-devel

You do know that one needs to prep the kernel source when installed from the Red Hat supplied source rpm file??

From the /usr/src/redhat/SPECS directory: rpmbuild -bp --target=`uname -m` kernel-2.6.spec

FYI: tagging on to a pretty much closed thread is considered rude by some, vikas027 did state that he/she was helped.

asutherlandus@yahoo. · 02-06-2008, 12:51 PM

Sorry for the lapse in etiquette.

I'll go read Linux kernel in a netshell, and post a new thread if need be.

Andrew

Lenard · 02-06-2008, 02:12 PM

This is no biggie to me, I just letting you know for the future.

I asked why because in many cases one does not need to re-build or build the kernel from the src.rpm file as supplied from Red Hat. This may be of interest to you;

http://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/I_need_the_Kernel_Source
http://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/Custom_Kernel
http://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/BuildingKernelModules

vikas027 · 09-18-2008, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asutherlandus@yahoo.

I'm trying to build kernel 2.6.18-53.1.6.el5-x86_64

rhel5 on amd64.

I get the following error from make mrproper:

scripts/Makefile.clean:17: /usr/src/kernels/2.6.18-53.1.6.el5-x86_64/drivers/infiniband/hw/amso1100/Makefile: No such file or directory
make[3]: *** No rule to make target `/usr/src/kernels/2.6.18-53.1.6.el5-x86_64/drivers/infiniband/hw/amso1100/Makefile'. Stop.
make[2]: *** [drivers/infiniband/hw/amso1100] Error 2
make[1]: *** [drivers/infiniband] Error 2
make: *** [_clean_drivers] Error 2

I removed and reinstalled the kernel src and still get the same error.

thanks for your sugestions,
Andrew

http://voidmain.is-a-geek.net/redhat...nel_build.html
http://www.howtoforge.com/kernel_compilation_suse
http://www.digitalhermit.com/linux/K...FIGURATION-2-6

First install these two packages, I prefer yum

Code:

yum install ncurses-devel
yum groupinstall "Java Development"

Code:

1. cd /usr/src
2. wget -c http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/linux-2.6.20.tar.bz2
3. tar xvfj linux-2.6.20.tar.bz2
4. cd linux-2.6.20
5. make clean && make mrproper
6. make oldconfig (this will get you very close to a working kernel as supplied by Red Hat)
7. make menuconfig (or config or xconfig);this is where one can tweak the configuration
8. make
9. make modules_install
10. make install
11. mkinitrd /boot/initrd-2.6.20.img 2.6.20 
12. cp .config /boot/config-2.6.20
13. cp arch/i386/boot/bzImage /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20
14. cp System.map /boot/System.map-2.6.20
15. ln -s /boot/System.map-KERNEL_VERSION /boot/System.map

These steps worked fine for me.

I am not an expert, but this brought two kernel options for me in the GRUB menu. May be you can get an idea from this.

Regards,
vIKAS

divyashree · 10-11-2008, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenard

Well you been reading old information, the steps in order are;

make mrproper
make oldconfig (this will get you very close to a working kernel as supplied by Red Hat)
make menuconfig (or config or xconfig);this is where one can tweak the configuration
make
make modules_install
make install

Sorry, no ebook but one can download the 'Linux kernel in a netshell" here (direct link);

http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kern...a_nutshell.pdf

the link is forbidden,how to get that book ??