i am installing an external scsi hard drive bay on a linux server i have. the machine is running RedHat 8.0. the directions for installing the driver tell me to recompile the kernel. I have followed the directions.
I am running kernel version 2.4.18-27.8.0
the directions tell me to copy the bzImage file it creates from recompiling into my boot directory. it tells me to name it following the same naming convention i have been using. when i am finished recompiling it should i name the new image 2.4.18-27.8.1 or just name it 2.4.18-27.8.0 like before?

it doesn't matter, just copy the compiled kernel to /boot and add an entry in grub/lilo, search here or google to find much info on how to do that. But if don't want an extra entry in grub/lilo, just rename your new kernel to the old kernel's name.

Copy your kernel source with a new name like linux-2.4.18-27.8.0custom
go in there
now type :
make mrproper
make dep clean

Now copy the config-2.4.18-27.8.0 file in /boot into your new kernel sources folder. You will need it.

Now type :
make xconfig
in the kernel configuration tool that just appeared, select the change to make after loading the config-2.4.18-27.8.0 file into. Once done, save and exit

Now type :
make dep clean
make bzImage
make modules
make modules_install
make install

Now you can reboot to test your new kernel. The previous one will be available in case of trouble.

Dek