Compiling and Installing Linux Kernel 2.4.18
 

Hello Everyone

I have Redhat 9 (linux kernel 2.4.20 I guess) installed on my pc.

I've taken a "Linux Source Code" class this semester and this involves playing with Linux Kernel, making modifications to it and compiling the modified kernel and booting it. However the kernel we are supposed to use is 2.4.18 (I have downloaded the necessary kernel files from kernel.com).

Is there a way I can compile and install this version (2.4.18) of kernel and add it up to by grub conf file so that I can boot into it without making changes to the existing kernel? Like... can I create a new partition and format it in ext2, mount it to the existing linux kernel and install 2.4.18 on it??

Does anyone have any experience in this? It would be great if someone can help me out

1) MAN Pages
2) http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO...-building.html

Since you propose to compile a kernel version which is different from the original, the process is fairly easily. When you compile the 2.4.18 kernel, you will have 2.4.18 in it's own directory, with it's own /lib/modules. Then copy /usr/src/linux-2.4.18/vmlinux (the compressed kernel image) to the /boot directory. Rename it: something like vmlinuz-2.4.18. This is the compressed kernel image you'll boot into. DON'T NAME IT VMLINUZ!. If you do, you'll overwrite the original which is in the boot directory.
This will give you two kernels to boot into, the original and the new addition. Then, edit grub.conf (or whatever RH uses) to add the new entry to the bootloader menu (just copy-paste the one that's there and edit to give it a new name on the menu, and to have it point to vmlinuz-2.4.18).
:cool:

You typically just extract it to a separate directory in /usr/src and then cd into that directory and then do the usual make xconfig .. make dep ; make clean ................. etc - in compiling another kernel there's no need to touch any existing kernels - you'll just end up with two kernels in your /boot directory etc.

Thanx! Will try
 

Hi all

Thank you very much for you help. I still havent tried it. I really appeciate your help. I'll certainly let you know once I've tried it.

I also appreciate any other suggestions that you guys might have.

Thanx Again!