I'm trying to build a custom kernel for RHEL 5.1 basic. The rpm-build command is missing and "yum install rpm-build" does nothing. Is rpm-build deprecated?

Also, I desperately need instructions for building a custom kernel on RHEL 5.1 basic. Long gone are the days where I could simply download a tar ball from kernel.org, compile and boot. It seems I need to use the rpm system now.

You should be able to build any kernel that comes from kernel.org on that machine. You may have to install some packages via yum in order to compile it (such as ncurses...that one always seems to get me) but it should still compile and work regardless.

Check and see if rpm-build is installed or not; rpm -qa 'rpm*'

One must 'prep' the kernel source before attempting to build a custom kernel as supplied from Red Hat's src.rpm file.

See: http://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/I_need_the_Kernel_Source

But Wells is correct, with all the required tools in place one can build any of the vanilla kernels from kernel.org;

$ uname -a
Linux Aspire5100 2.6.24.3 #1 Wed Feb 27 10:11:58 EST 2008 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

The steps for the Red Hat family are;

make mrproper
make oldconfig
make menuconfig (or xconfig or gconfig)
make
make modules_install
make install

My problem is that I have a binary driver thats compiled against a specific RedHat kernel, so I really just want to change a few minor features of the current RedHat kernel.

Not only wont yum install rpm-build, but there is no rpm-build on the software DVD, and "yum list available | grep build" returns nothing. "rpm-qa | grep rpm" lists the following.

Searching rhn.redhat.com for packages only lists software for old version of redhat, even though I have a current subscription.

Which specific kernel is this binary driver thats compiled against?? Which binary driver are you talking about anyhow??

The rpm-build package is included on the installation media, and since you have a valid subscription you should be able to install rpm-build via yum.

From a RHEL 5 DVD;
$ ls -al /media/cdrecorder/Workstation/rpm*
-rw-r--r-- 68 root root 571785 Jan 17 2007 /media/cdrecorder/Workstation/rpm-build-4.4.2-37.el5.x86_64.rpm

If you cannot locate the rpm-build-4.4.2-47.el5 package or use yum to install it then check here (CentOS==RHEL minus the legal stuff);

ftp://mirrors.kernel.org/centos/5/os/

The binary driver is for a Tams HP-IB pci card.
http://www.tamsinc.com/hpib/index.htm

Unfortunately, Tams has very poor linux support...

Does not look like they are that bad on support, a little behind maybe. Some vendors do not even bother with Linux support at all. According to this page then do have drivers and such for the 2.6.18-53.el5 kernel, nothing is stopping you from running this kernel.

http://www.tamsinc.com/sicl/82091/82091rev.htm

Thats the driver I'm using, and it works. The problem is that I have another pci card (8 port serial card) in the same machine that requires me to change a parameter in the kernel.

OK...........

Did you get your rpm-build rpm issue resolved???

My rpm-build issue was resolved. I have no idea why you can't install this via yum on RHEL5.1. I had to borrow a co-workers DVD.

What subscription level do you have at RHN?? You need a fairly high subscription level, the basic does not provide access to such things as the development tools.

HAHAHA.... OK, I just did a search for what package rpm-build was located in, and this thread was at the top of the pile for search responses... and it answered my question.

The sad thing is, I basically answered my own question five years ago!