I haven't compiled a kernel before, so I have a few questions. I currently have slackware kernel: 2.4.26

Even if you can answer one or two of my questions, I'd be gratefull, thanks!


1) Why should I update my kernel? Do I get more security, is it faster, what?

2) What website do I download a newer kernel? (Probably a tarball since I use slack)

3) What path should I compile the source in, What's the normal? (Example, programs I compile in /usr/local/src )

3) How do I get the options my kernel was built with? The one that came installed? (So I can compile the new one with the same options)

4) Will I need to reinstall much? Or just kernel modules? (I'm guessing I'll have to reinstall my nvidia driver since it used my kernel headers)

thanks

I don't know of any exploits in 2.4.26, so no security.
Speedup if you recompile for you CPU may be expected.

http://www.kernel.org ... but that won't be a slack-tgz.
And Volker doesn't make varied kernels for different
CPUs, so you really need to 'roll your own'.

Commonly under /usr/src

look at /boot/config-<version-mumble>

That's the one. There's not many drivers around
that are compiled outside the kernel-tree, and I'm
sure you'd know them better than anyone else here.


Cheers,
Tink