Changing my kernel

hashbangbinbash · 09-09-2008, 05:06 AM

I'm using a Gentoo, I tried to upgrade my kernel, I downloaded two files provided by the company that provides my dedicated server, bzImage-2.6.24.5-xxxx-std-ipv6-32 and System.map-2.6.24.5-xxxx-std-ipv6-32 to the boot directory. Assume these are the right files for my equipment but if you can't find any problems below, I may have to check that again.

I made a symbolic link in /boot for System.map-2.6.24.5-xxxx-std-ipv6-32 called System.map

My system uses LILO, I edited /etc/lilo.conf to this:

Quote:

prompt
timeout=50
default=linux
boot=/dev/hda
map=/boot/System.map
install=/boot/boot.b
lba32
append=""
#serial=0,9600n8

image=/boot/bzImage-2.6.24.5-xxxx-std-ipv6-32
label=linux
read-only
root=/dev/hda1

image=/boot/bzImage-2.6.24.5-xxxx-grs-ipv4-32
label=linux-old
read-only
root=/dev/hda1

And then I rebooted, but when I run "uname -a" it tells me I'm still using my old kernel. Can anyone tell me what I've done wrong?

bathory · 09-09-2008, 05:09 AM

Did you remember to run

Code:

lilo

after editing lilo.conf?

hashbangbinbash · 09-09-2008, 05:40 AM

Yup. I ran that and then restarted, wasn't sure I had to do both but did anyway to make sure.

bathory · 09-09-2008, 06:38 AM

Quote:

I made a symbolic link in /boot for System.map-2.6.24.5-xxxx-std-ipv6-32 called System.map

You can delete the symlink since you use extra version and comment the line "map=/boot/System.map"
Then run lilo verbosely to see what it does:

Code:

/sbin/lilo -v

hashbangbinbash · 09-09-2008, 07:50 AM

According to the output, it all went swimmingly...

Quote:

# /sbin/lilo -v
LILO version 22.8, Copyright (C) 1992-1998 Werner Almesberger
Development beyond version 21 Copyright (C) 1999-2006 John Coffman
Released 19-Feb-2007 and compiled at 20:03:07 on Jun 12 2008

Reading boot sector from /dev/hda
Using MENU secondary loader
Calling map_insert_data

Boot image: /boot/bzImage-2.6.24.5-xxxx-std-ipv6-32
Added linux *

Boot image: /boot/bzImage-2.6.24.5-xxxx-grs-ipv4-32
Added linux-old

Writing boot sector.
/boot/boot.0300 exists - no boot sector backup copy made.

and yet uname -a still shows the old kernel.

bathory · 09-09-2008, 05:07 PM

Well, since lilo.conf looks ok, I can only think that who compiled that kernel has forgotten to change the extraversion from .5-xxxx-grs-ipv4-32 to .5-xxxx-std-ipv6-32. You can use strings to check the kernel version:

Code:

strings /boot/bzImage-2.6.24.5-xxxx-std-ipv6-32|grep 2.6.24.5

if you don't have the sources.

hashbangbinbash · 09-10-2008, 03:39 AM

thanks bathory.

Code:

# strings /boot/bzImage-2.6.24.5-xxxx-std-ipv6-32 | grep 2.6.24.5
2.6.24.5-xxxx-std-ipv6-32

bathory · 09-10-2008, 03:52 AM

Doh!!
Change lilo.conf to the bare essentials:

Code:

prompt
timeout=50
lba32

image=/boot/bzImage-2.6.24.5-xxxx-std-ipv6-32
label=linux
read-only
root=/dev/hda1

image=/boot/bzImage-2.6.24.5-xxxx-grs-ipv4-32
label=linux-old
read-only
root=/dev/hda1

and try again