Hi. im trying to compile a new kernel because i believe last time i tried compiling a custom kernel the sound modules got messed because i have no sound now. I've read online and in books about the process but some sites are out dated and include unecessary steps like make dep. One site will say to do it in /usr/src others say not to etc. I was wondering if anyone could share their experiences with kernel compiling and tips they have learned from mistakes and successes that would be useful for others getting into the compiling game. One thing in particular that would help is someone let me know what order to do the make commands in. is this the correct order?

make "your choice of config script"
make clean
make bzImage
make modules
make install
make modules_install?

This is confusing to me because when i first tried compiling the book i used was older then i thought so it didn't mention the make install to install the kernel they did it manually with cp. But when i did it with cp my kernel didn't boot but make install did it correctly and i could boot it. Also i think i remember a make initrd command that fits in their somewhere? That book didn't mention that either. Also are kernels set to configure a standard workable way so if i just did make xconfig and saved it it would be a working kernel and if not where does one find the standard .config file? Is it hiding in the source tree somewhere? Im sorry if im asking too much, but figured people's experiences might help me more then following a site step by step again - cuz last time that got me in trouble. lol. thanks for any replies in advance, i appreciate it.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...5&pagenumber=1

Use this guide. You should come through with no problems. I did the first time I used it and ever since.

I think you may have those two steps backwards. If I remember correctly, make clean wipes out your .config file. Or maybe that is make mrproper. In any case, I'd do the make clean first, then make config.

By the way, those steps are for a 2.4 series kernel. If you do a 2.6 series you just need

make clean or mrproper
make config
make
make modules
make install




One of the things you can do is edit the makefile and uncomment the line that says

export INSTALL_PATH=/boot

If you have everything in /boot, it does all the copying for you.

And probably the most important "tip" I could give would be to make sure you have a good kernel available for boot. Nothing is worse than not being able to boot because the kernel is borked.

i'd like to become really proficient in kernel compiling so i figured the best way would be to really take the time to learn all of the config options and become familar with the technology behind some options that i am not familar with. Does this seem like a good idea? I wasn't sure because i could take time to learn about some options and have them be obsolete or not included in the next version or couple versions down. Does anyone know of any good online docs or books that would help me out? Like a site that explains the options and the bare minimun you need to get a kernel working. i've read the Kernel HOW-TO on www.tldp.org already. thanks for any replies in advance.

The best way is to read the help that comes with every module in the kernel compiling process. At every module, at least almost every module, there is help, that tells you what the module does and what it should be compiled as. Read that and you will be on your way. But keep in mind that you should know your hardware before attempting kernel recompile.