Kernel installation...ugh...

I am running Red Hat Linux 9 trying to install a newer version of my kernel for the first time because I need support for large vfat partitions which 2.4.20-31.9 doesn't have. The kernel I wish to install is 2.4.27. So, I started using this as a template for installing my kernel:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...icle&artid=170

The only problem is that once I got ot the "make menuconfig" part, it gives me this:

rm -f include/asm
( cd include ; ln -sf asm-i386 asm)
make -C scripts/lxdialog all
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-2.4.27/scripts/lxdialog'
/bin/sh: line 1: gcc: command not found

>> Unable to find the Ncurses libraries.
>>
>> You must have Ncurses installed in order
>> to use 'make menuconfig'

make[1]: *** [ncurses] Error 1
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-2.4.27/scripts/lxdialog'
make: *** [menuconfig] Error 2

Do I have to install the gcc compiler? The Ncurses libraries? I don't really know what I have and what I don't have. This kernel install is getting more and more complex. Is it really this difficult to update your kernel?

This might be more information than you need but I wanted to be through. Try #3 instead of 'make menuconfig'

I'm assuming that you are new to kernel compilation and are in need of a step-by-step procedure to create/compile a kernel. If so, read on:
First you must have a copy of the source code for your distribution, without you are powerless.
After you have installed the kernel source you can move on to the next steps.
1. cd /usr/src/linux
2. make mrproper
3. make xconfig This command will provide you an interactive GUI to set-up your kernel.
4. Set-up the kernel as you need.
5. Save the config to file.
6. Exit the gui.
7. make dep
8. make clean
9. make bzImage
If you have any kernel modules (most people do) then perform steps 10,11.
10. make modules
11. make modules_install
12. mkinitrd /boot/initrd xxxx (xxxx is the version of linux you are running)
Now you can copy the kernel to your boot directory:
13. cp /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage /boot/mykernel-xxxx
Note: Do not copy over your current kernel, be sure 'mykerne-xxxx' is a unique name. This way if the new kernel does not work you can use the old (working) kernel.
14. Modify your boot loader (LILO, grub, etc) to allow selection of the new kernel. Check your documentation (man , info) on how to do this part.
15. Reboot and select the new kernel. Note any errors and repeat the whole process (Step 1 , ...) as needed.

Oh, I probably should have mentioned that. I did try xconfig, and I found it to be more errors than using menuconfig. I didn't want to deal with that. I also tried oldconfig and config and they seem to work, but the faq I'm reading is geared towards the other two. If I were more versed in linux kernel installations, I'd get all tricky and use those anyway, but this is my first and I don't want to screw things up. Thanks for the reply, anyway.

You will need gcc installed to compile your kernel, and based on your output, it doesn't look like you have it. You can find the gcc RPMs on your install CDs.

Well, I installed gcc, and at least it changes something!

rm -f include/asm
( cd include ; ln -sf asm-i386 asm)
make -C scripts/lxdialog all
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-2.4.27/scripts/lxdialog'
/usr/bin/ld: cannot find -lncurses
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status

>> Unable to find the Ncurses libraries.
>>
>> You must have Ncurses installed in order
>> to use 'make menuconfig'

make[1]: *** [ncurses] Error 1
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-2.4.27/scripts/lxdialog'
make: *** [menuconfig] Error 2

I tried installing the Ncurses libraries, but they are already installed apparently.

Did you install the ncurses-devel package? You probably need the development stuff for the headers and the like. Also, try running ldconfig and then re-run the make command, in case the libraries were'nt picked up for some odd reason.

GAAAAH!!!! I actually installed it, and after all that, I still can't get it to mount my large vfat partition...*weep*

if u want to access ur vfat partitions i dont think all this is necessary

i have redhat9 with kernel 2.4.20-8

i followed the steps

>fdisk -l

check the output

>mount -tvfat /dev/hdaXX /mnt/windows

the windows file is where u want to load the vfat and hdaXX is the vfat parttion

if u want to autoload try to put the required hdXX in fstab


pls reply if this i wht u wanted

satish

Nah, thanks for trying, but I've been through this all already. My vfat partition is over 120 GB, and I think that when I compiled the kernel I might not have enabled large vfat support. I'm going to double check that today. Support for large vfat partitions started in the kernel version 2.4.25 i think. Thanks anyway though.

Dang, on second thought I can't find the option in "xconfig" (which is what I ended up using, btw. It worked once I installed gcc) that allows for large vfat partitions. I don't want to recompile again and end up still not having support for my hard drive. Can anyone help?