Sorry to make this a tad long winded. Just read a post where someone was gently chastised for not taking the initiative. I’m only trying to provide my “initiative” documentation.

I posted to this forum yesterday concerning my network adapter and the loading of drivers. I found some useful (I hope) information on the Linksys site but only in relation to “Red Hat” (v7.0). I have “Mandrake” (v6.5), so I attempted to use the information. Here’s why I’m posting again ………..

I was directed to type (in the console);
cd/usr/src/linux
This is supposed to be the “kernel” (OK, I’m a newbie, I’ll bite). Found the “usr” directory; did a “ls”; I see “src” but it’s not a directory (or as my prompt points out: not a file either).

I did a search for “Linux” on the root and came up with these three listings;
/usr/lib/perl5/5.oo503/i386-linux/linux
/usr/share/terinfo/l/linux
/usr/i386-glib20-linux/include/linux

I then did a search for “kernel” on the root and found this;
/proc/sys/kernel

I’m supposed to go through some additional configurations until the kernel recompiles and then I’m in action. Seems I can’t get past step 1. I’m not afraid of screwing up the OS , after all this is a learning curve but I need to get into the kernels directory…first.
PS – logged-in as “su”

Any and all assistance is greatly appreciated.

the kernel source directory is /usr/src/linux. it will only exist if you have already installed the kernel source, which you presumably haven't done. install it from your distro cd's. kernel-source-2.4.20.rpm for example.

why use mandrake 6.5 though? that's really really old, and not good for installing newer software, as everything will be out of date. mandrake 9.1 came out the other week....

Thanks for the response. I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "installed the source"? Was there some point in the installation where I'm asked about installing the source? Is it just some copy (from the cd to the hda) process ??

I'm using 6.5 because that was on my shelf when I freed up a small hard-drive (2.5GB) and had the time, inclination and desire.

no, you install it like you would install any other rpm file. check this site's search and also the rute guide in my signature for info on using rpms

Thanks for the assisatnce..........

I have heard about some problems with the 2.4.20 kernel (ext3--->data loss) is that still an issue, and do you know of it... if it it exists?

I use 9.0 now (2.4.19) and have been very occupied, so I don't know much more about it. Just thought I'd warn in case of a "real" problem.

If you're using a Linux book CD it won't have the kernel source, probably - I don't know. So you may need to download it. And if you just want to play with it and will be satisfied with a base system, it might do but, from personal experience of starting with a very old distro from the back of a used book that was rpm based, you won't be happy if you try to expand. Few rpms will work and few programs will compile. So you'd be better off trying something newer if you want to add in your own programs - and support for networking.

Great. Any more info on that, linus24? I just recompiled my 2.4.20 to, among other more important objectives, support ext3, which is what I'm using now. I hadn't heard about any problems with it. - Not trying to steal the thread, but really curious about this.

I wnat to thank everyone for their support. This is just a learning phase. I'm getting on to bigger and better things. I've a new post on the kernel file.

Thanks again

I think there is some info on the Linux-Software forum under Mandrake 9.1 kernel bug. But like I said before, I have been focusing on my 2.4.19 installation...so I have not had the pleasure yet, only read a little about it here and there.

I hope there is nothing seriosly wrong.....the boys who write that thing work very hard, I'm sure it will work out fine.

Glad to try to help, perini.

Did I find the right post, linus24? Regarding Iomega zip drives? I don't have one of those - and if it was somehow Mandrake specific, I don't have that either. Hope they do get it fixed for the Mandrake/Iomega users but maybe I'll be okay.

There was an issue with data loss, I wish I had more info for you. If you browse around a little(off this site), you may find something more.

I don't want to start any rumors or anything, just sort of passing some info along, and not very complete info at that.

Anyway, have fun. And if I come across the piece I read again, I'll post the link for you. Then you will get something out of this, Instead of my babling.

About the ext3 bug in kernel 2.4.20 see http://kerneltrap.org/node.php?id=515

This does not affect normal use of ext3 though, as you have to specifically mount ext3 with data=journal. This is what RedHat said about it:

The bug has the potential to cause data loss if the file system is used in the non-default "full data journaling" mode.

The bug affects only filesystems mounted with the following option:

mount -o data=journal

If you have not set the above option then you are not vulnerable. If you do not know if you have set that option or not then you are not vulnerable, as no standard system software will set this option by default. You can check what default options are in use for a particular file system by looking in the system's /etc/fstab file.

The bug can only result in the loss of recent writes when a file system is unmounted. Proper synchronization of the data on disk in the event of a crash (the primary aim of a journaling file system such as ext3) is not affected by this bug.

Ah, solid. Thanks for that yngwin. I don't think it applies, but I'll go double check, just in case. Bug reported one day after release. Ouch.

Thank you for picking that up....

Seeya