I want to compile a new kernel but want to make sure I know what I'm doing before I do anything. I am currently using 2.6.8.1-12mdksmp.

The first thing that I was going to do was simply add the high memory support as I have 1.5gb of memory. But when I did the make xconfig it didn't smp on like what I was currently using so I wondered if there were more options than just that that I needed to change. Where can I get the exact configuration file for the 2.6.8.1-12mdksmp kernel?

Also I wanted to change it from the general i586 processor to my Pentium 4, is there any other settings or optimizations like this that I should look into?

The next thing I wanted to do was apply any patches that I need to. Do I need to get these patches from mandrake some where, or can I just use the ones on kernel.org?

At some point I saw a guide for making the kernel for mandrake 9.0 on their site but now I can't find it, I tried googling for it but still couldn't find it. Anyone know what I am talking about or where it is.


Thanks in advance.

The config file is /boot/config-2.6.8.1-12mdksmp

If you don't have any other requirements than highmem and P4 I suggest you'd stick to the Mandrake kernel source.
It's patched itself with some stuff that's not in the mainline kernel (like supermount I think).

If you have some special patch you'd like to incorporate (in the MDK source) beware it might clash with some of the MDK patching.

If you have half an hour or so I suggest you do a make xconfig and read the help on each entry.

- Peder

xconfig gives me the error of....


if I do echo $QTDIR I get "/usr/lib/qt3/"

But I dont think I have the QT development package, is the a command line configure or curses?

You have to have the qt-devel installed ('urpmi libqt3-devel')
Otherwise try 'make menuconfig' to get a ncurses interface. 'make help' shows you even more alternatives.

- Peder