Kernel Compilation: Solve The Error
 

I compiled my kernel... RHEL5 and kernel version 2.6.18-8.el5. I compiled the new kernel 2.6.24.3. The steps i followed are:
First i unpatched the kernel into a directory /home/src and it came in a folder linux-2.6.24.3. Then i cd'd into the folder

$cd /home/src/linux-2.6.24.3

After that i ran the following command:

$make mproper
$make xconfig (where i removed the ext3 file system, only change i made)
$make dep
$make clean
$make bzImage
$make modules
$make modules_install

Then i created initial ramdisk
$mkinitrd /boot/initrd-2.6.24.3.img 2.6.24.3

Then i copied the kenel and the system map
$cp arch/x86/boot/bzImage /boot/bzImage-2.6.24.3
$cp System.map /boot/System.map-2.6.24.3
$ln -s /boot/System.map-2.6.24.3 /boot/System.map

Then i changed the grub file in /etc/grub.conf and added the following lines:

title Test Kernel (2.6.24.3)
root(hd0,5) //this was given as in the earlier entry
kernel /bzImage-2.6.24.3 ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 rhgb quiet
initrd /initrd-2.6.24.3.img

Then i rebooted the system... and from the grub menu chose the Test Kernel..
but it gives the error...

mount: error mounting /dev/root on /sysroot as ext3: No such device
setuproot: moving /dev failed: No such file or directory
setuproot: error mouting /proc: No such file or directory
setuproot: error mouting /sys: No such file or directory
swutchroot: mount failed: No such file or directory
kernel panic - not sysncing : attempted to kill init!

Could anyone please help me in removing this error and properly compile the kernel?:scratch:

You forgot somethings like creating a working kernel configuration before tweaking. You also did a few extra not needed steps and preformed some undesired/unnecessary work, the steps in order and the only steps one need to do are;

make mrproper
make oldconfig ;the step you missed
make menuconfig (or xconfig or gconfig here)
make
make modules_install
make install ;takes the place of the mkinitrd command, copying files and editing you did

The other junk you did is not required and it sounds like you using an old HOWTO as a reference, please get the updated reference for building a 2.6 kernel from here;

http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kern...le/gregkh/lkn/

You want(direct link): http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kern...kn_pdf.tar.bz2