I'm updating a RedHat 9 system with a 2.4.22 kernel (and some OpenMosix extensions!), but the silly thing won't load the root filesystem and instead I get a kernel panic. I can't figure out what's wrong because I seem to have compiled the kernel with everything it needs to start. Anyway, I get this info.....

ds: no socket drivers loaded !
VFS: Cannot open root device "LABEL=/" or 00:00
Please append a correct "root=" boot option
Kernel Panic: VFS : Unable to mount root fs on 00:00

Now, I've compiled all the SCSI stuff into the kernel (essential since the machine is a server with only SCSI drives in it)

What annoys me is that the LABEL=/ and GRUB settings for the new kernel is the same as the old one - but for some reason LABEL=/ wont work.
Heck, even LABEL=/dev/sda1 doesn't work (and that's where the root filesystem is)

Any ideas?

Silly Question but i take it you have compiled in support for your file system be it ext3,ext2 etc.

Can't other much more advice never had a scsi.

Take it you have made the right initrd image if you need one?

Yeah, I compiled in all the support for that and still no start.

I MUST be missing a particular driver somewhere... but I'd just like to know exactly *what* for my own education.

In the meantime I'll compile a kernel-with-the-lot and see how this pans out.

Did you compile the scsi support as modules? You need to have them compiled directly into the kernel, or else you can't even read the disk to load modules

I tried doing it both ways. I actually know that the scsi driver needed is the Adaptec 7XXX driver.... and first I tried using modules and an initrd. The second time I tried building it directly into the kernel and skipping the initrd.

Both cases ended up with the same message.

I'll stick with building an all-you-can-eat kernel until I find a way to thin it out.