I need some help here... I have a fully functional and operating red hat 7.1 box... I can successfully compile my own kernel.. new kernel boots and almost all is ok, BUT my USB mouse doesn't get detected and my ETH1 (second NIC) doesnt come up... BUT when I use my original kernel, all the above work fine...


Anyone?

sounds like you forgot to include some modules when you compiled your kernel. use make xconfig to go through all the kernel options, and be sure to include usb and ethernet support.

Usually what I do before compiling a new Kernel is to take a snapshot of the kernel I'm already running by running xconfig and saving the configuration file of the working kernel to a different name like kernelmask.conf. Then go into the directory containing the new kernel and run xconfig and load the "kernelmask.conf" file, this will have all of the modules etc.. from your old kernel, then go through the new kernel and add the new features and remove old or obsolete ones.

Well I went into xconfig and selected USB support... And same for the eth1... Thats why Im posting here... How can I see what redhat used to compile the 2.4.3-12 ver that I currently have?

Look in /usr/src/linux-{kernel image #}/configs Look at the config file for your chip type i386 or i686 (686=pentium and above). That should tell you what you need to know. You can load them through xconfig to make it easier to read, but when you exit don't proceed with the make dep etc..

if you have the kernel-sources installed from the old kernel, you can just go into the directory and see what modules it was using with the usb and ethernet. you'll need to rummage around in the config.h files. with the usb, you'll probably need to find the specific module that ran the mouse - it's not going to be as simple as enabling general-usb support.

it might also be that the module names have changed, and you'll need to update the modules.conf file. a quick way to check which modules the old kernel was using is to go into the modules.conf file and look over the usb sections.

modules.conf data
This is what is in my modules.conf.

alias eth0 eepro100
alias eth1 3c59x
alias parport_lowlevel parport_pc
alias usb-controller usb-uhci

I believe I checked on usb-uhci...
I cant figure this out...

ok... just checked with the kernel cvs. the usb-uhci, has undergone several hundred lines of changes from 2.4.3 to 2.4.10. the ethernet modules, however, have only had three lines changed. so, my guess:

in the original red hat kernel, both the usb-uhci and the eth01 are compiled as modules, and not directly into the kernel. if you compiled these modules directly into the kernel, it might cause some problems when certain programs try to load them. this also happens a lot with sound card modules. try recompiling the kernel to load these on demand, and not directly into the kernel.

Will give that a wirl right now.... as you stated I compiled them into kernel not as modules...


Let see...

For USB support I selected Module.. Recompiled the whole thing and uppon booting I get a error... Error is: modprobe Cant locate module usb-uhci...

Did I miss something or do something wrong?

P.S.
I perfomed make modules & make modules_install
but have not copied any files anywhre?

couple of ideas: run a depmod -a to tell the kernel where the modules are. this will update the /lib/modules/modules.dep file.

also, usually, the make will do this, but make sure that the system.map that corresponds to the kernel you compiled is in the /boot directory.

>>couple of ideas: run a depmod -a to tell the kernel where the >>modules are. this will update the /lib/modules/modules.dep file.


Will this effect or render my existing working kernel in anyway?


>>also, usually, the make will do this, but make sure that the >>system.map that corresponds to the kernel you compiled is in >>the /boot directory.

Did that...

it shouldn't affect your current kernel setup. it modifies the /lib/modules/2.4.10/modules.dep file - your old setup is contained in /lib/modules/2.4.3-???/modules.dep. the old configuration should still be retained.

you are correct, I figured that out and modules are there..

I still get no mouse upon bootup.. and no second nic....
weird..

Does a makeconf exist from redhat 7.1? this way I can compile my own newer kernel but the same way redhat 7.1 does?

Im about to put a hold on this... Its kicking my butt...

P.S. I have been rebooting to try new kernel out. This is the only way right? What I mean is there no kernel reload command?

well.. i can't think of anything else offhand to tell you. my only suggestion is to play around some more with the kernel config. also, running lilo at the prompt will load the new kernel. you never need to reboot linux unless you're adding hardware.