How to upgrade kernel 2.6.13 or higher

Hi,

I have installed RedHat Linux Enterprise WS 4 on my notebook. However, I want to upgrade my kernel.
Can anyone give me link to download 2.6.13 or higher and how to upgrade them step by step.

Thanks,
Chandan K.

Sure...........

The latest released kernel is 2.6.17.1 and is available here; http://kernel.org/

Review the kernel rebuild guide before starting your first build. The guide can be found here; http://www.digitalhermit.com/linux/K...ild-HOWTO.html

Keeping in mind some minor differences with the building steps which are in order;

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

The make [g][x][menu]config is the important one and will take time to accomplish. The Red Hat supplied /boot/config-<version#> file can be used as a start but you will need to go through the configuration options and make sure everything related to your system is configured. Watch out for the netfilter sections as they have changed.

A little "trial and error" may be experienced before you get a good working kernel, but it can be done. If your kernel fails then try again as your older kernel is still available for booting. It took me 8 attempts before I build my first good working kernel (back when RHL 7.3 first came out), now I build them fairly quickly and easily.

$ uname -a
Linux Aspire5000 2.6.17 #2 Sun Jun 18 19:46:37 EDT 2006 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Pay attention when doing this. RHEL probably uses a modified kernel, and replacing that with a vanilla kernel from kernel.org might very well break things.
Maybe the guys at CentOS have a testing kernel for you. I can't tell as their site appears to be offline.

Nope, CentOS does not have a 2.6.13 based test kernel (that I'm aware of) and is not down (just checked). Yes, Red Hat kernels are modifed from the kernel source with backports from the upstream vanilla kernel development along with a few additional "in-house" tweaks.

A vanilla kernel will not break things if built correctly, but do not expect support from Red Hat by building or using any kernel Red Hat has not released for RHEL. I normally build and use my own vanilla kernel instead of using a Red Hat (or clone) supplied kernel without any problems,see;

$ cat /etc/*release
CentOS release 4.3 (Final)
$ uname -a
Linux Aspire5000 2.6.17 #2 Sun Jun 18 19:46:37 EDT 2006 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

pro_chandan could try installing (via rpm -ivh kernel*.rpm) the latest released kernel from FC3 (RHEL4 is built partly with the work done for FC3) or FC4 instead of building a vanilla kernel but no guaranties.

Moved: This thread is more suitable in the Redhat forum and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

Hi Lenard,

Thank you so much your help.

I download 2.6.13.1 kernel and I followed your procedure.
However, when I do make install I got the following error message"

CHK include/linux/version.h
make[1]: `arch/x86_64/kernel/asm-offsets.s' is up to date.
CHK include/linux/compile.h
CHK usr/initramfs_list
Kernel: arch/x86_64/boot/bzImage is ready
sh /root/Desktop/new/linux-2.6.13.1/arch/x86_64/boot/install.sh 2.6.13.1 arch/x86_64/boot/bzImage System.map "/boot"
WARNING: Couldn't open directory /lib/modules/2.6.13.1: No such file or directory
FATAL: Could not open /lib/modules/2.6.13.1/modules.dep.temp for writing: No such file or directory
/lib/modules/2.6.13.1 is not a directory.
mkinitrd failed
make[1]: *** [install] Error 1
make: *** [install] Error 2
"

Am I missing somewhere?? Please help!!

Thanks,
Chandan K.

Hi,

I have performed "
make mrproper
make gconfig (or xconfig or menuconfig here)
make
make modules_install"
successfully. however, when I do make install I received
"WARNING: Couldn't open directory /lib/modules/2.6.13.1: No such file or directory
FATAL: Could not open /lib/modules/2.6.13.1/modules.dep.temp for writing: No such file or directory
/lib/modules/2.6.13.1 is not a directory.
mkinitrd failed
make[1]: *** [install] Error 1
make: *** [install] Error 2"

Please help what to do next??

Hmmm.......... try again

Check, do you have the /lib/modules/2.6.13.1 directory???? If not then perhaps you forgot something like configuring the hardware and other modules for your system during the make [something]config step. Which make [menu][g][x]config step did you use? Remember the Red Hat config-2.6.9XXXX file does not match up one to one with a vanilla kernel>2.6.12, for example you may have seen something like;

(gconf:29138): Gtk-WARNING **: Mixing deprecated and non-deprecated GtkToolbar API is not allowed

(gconf:29138): Gtk-WARNING **: Mixing deprecated and non-deprecated GtkToolbar API is not allowed
#
# using defaults found in .config
#
.config:58:warning: trying to assign nonexistent symbol CC_ALIGN_FUNCTIONS
.config:59:warning: trying to assign nonexistent symbol CC_ALIGN_LABELS
.config:60:warning: trying to assign nonexistent symbol CC_ALIGN_LOOPS
.config:61:warning: trying to assign nonexistent symbol CC_ALIGN_JUMPS
.config:74:warning: trying to assign nonexistent symbol OBSOLETE_MODPARM
.config:214:warning: trying to assign nonexistent symbol UNORDERED_IO
.config:217:warning: trying to assign nonexistent symbol PCI_LEGACY_PROC
.config:360:warning: trying to assign nonexistent symbol IP_NF_MATCH_MULTIPORT
.config:365:warning: trying to assign nonexistent symbol IP_NF_MATCH_AH_ESP
.config:370:warning: trying to assign nonexistent symbol IP_NF_MATCH_POLICY


Review your current /usr/src/linux-2.6.13.1/.config file and compare to your /boot/config-<kernel-version-number> file, do they roughly have the same modules set??

Hi,

Thank you so much for your help..

I tried to manage and it installed...successfully...

However, when I open 2.6.13.1 kernel
it's getting hang while boting up...

Any idea??
Thanks,
Chandan K.

Hi,

Yes, I have /lib/modules/2.6.13.1 directory
I followed your all insturctions and installed successfully without error...
HOwever, when I start in 2.6.13.1 kernel it's getting hang...

Do I need to verify somewhere??

Please help!!

Thanks & regards,
CHandan K.

Take a careful look at your /boot/grub/grub.conf file and instead of using the partition label for your new kernel use the actual drive/partition for example;

Sample grub.conf file section;

# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE:  You have a /boot partition.  This means that
#          all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
#          root (hd0,2)
#          kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/hda5

Current: kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.17 ro root=LABEL=/ ...............

Becomes: kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.17 ro root=/dev/hda5 ...............


Edited 06-23-2006 9.43 AM EST
What version of util-linux is installed on your system???