Upgrading to kernel-2.4.9-21
 

Hello friends!

I actually have kernel-2.4.2-2 in an RH 7.1 and I want to upgrade to kernel-2.4.9-21, these are my questions:

1. Am I forced to upgrade first to kernel versions between 2.4.2-2 and 2.4.9-21?

2. My linux box is running on i586, I downloaded from Red Hat Network all packages to upgrade my system (all newest RPMs for my RPMs installed), and I said to download for i586 architecture. I unzip the rhn-packages.tar file and all the RPMs are for i386, does it work for my architecture i586?

3. Exist any especific procedure to upgrade the kernel?

thanks,

Okay - to answer your question in order:


1 - No. Only if you are applying patches as opposed to a whole new kernel would you have to do this.. and you don't want to add patches unless there is a good reason you need to. Just untar the new kernel to /usr/src/linux-2.4.9-21

2 - i386 will work on any machine 386 and above. So yes, it will work on your system. No worries.

3 - Yes - there are better procedures than others; and from my experience almost every system is slightly different. I'll give you what works best for my system:

Untar your new linux kernel into /usr/src/linux-2.4.9-21

cd /usr/src
ln -s linux-2.4.9-21 linux
cd kernel-2.4.2-2
cp .config /usr/src/linux
cd /usr/src/linux
make clean
make xconfig <--- or menuconfig instead of xconfig

*configure any special features you need, then select save and exit*

make dep
make bzImage
make modules
make modules_install
cp arch/i386/boot/bzImage /boot/vmlinux-2.4.9-21
cp System.map /boot/System.map-2.4.9-21

vi /etc/lilo.conf <-- only if you're using lilo

add something to it similiar to this:

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.9-21
label = linux-2.4.9-21
read-only
root=/dev/hda1 <--- make this the same as the other entry


then save and exit. Your lilo config may vary, if you're using an initrd image, then yours will be a little different. Also make sure the root= like has the correct device.. just copy it from the other entry already existing.

then type

lilo

and reboot.. and select the new kernel. If it blows up somehow, you can still boot to your old config and try again.

If you've never compiled a kernel before, don't get frustrated if it doesn't work the first two dozen times.. LOL .. It takes a lot of practice to learn the proper things to do and config for your system. I've never talked to anyone who got it the first time without a hitch of some kind. Have fun and good luck!