I'm building a server for a specific application that runs on Fedora 14. However the application needs the kernel to be built with CONFIG_PREEMPT=N.

The current default Fedora 14 kernel for the system is:
2.6.35.14-106.fc14.i686.PAE

I have tried 'Building a Custom Kernel' at the Fedora site [B]*BUT*[B] I really screwed something up. I don't mind trying again, but I had some questions first.

The instructions mention So questions:
1.) How do you use config-local? Is there a web guide available somewhere?
2.) Is there a site to download prebuilt kernels?
3.) Any other tips/suggestions for changing the CONFIG_PREEMPT configuration setting?

Thanks!

Just for fun, I followed the link and read the "Building a Custom Kernel" guide, and... I'll just say I'm glad my first attempt at building a kernel didn't involve hats of any kind or colour.

If your current kernel has all you need except the preemption setting, why not base your new kernel on the config in /proc/config.gz? (Assuming Red Hat hasn't disabled that feature, that is.)

Once you've downloaded the kernel source and applied whatever patches you need to apply for Fedora, you could just run "zcat /proc/config.gz > .config" in the kernel directory. Then run "make oldconfig" followed by "make menuconfig", and disable preemption using the nice, simple, curses-based interface provided by the kernel developers.

That should get you the configuration you need.

I may try that. Anyone else?

Running "make localmodconfig" gave me what I wanted. This prompts me to answer NEW questions between my existing config and the available config parameters then writes it out to .config.

Then I did "make menuconfig" to change the CONFIG_PREEMPT setting.

We'll see if the final kernel works and if the config setting is now set to N.

Thanks