I want to have a go at compiling a 2.6 kernel. I have read about it a lot on the web and I think I have just about enough information to start.

I have 2 questions though:

When I have downloaded the compressed kernel, where should I unzip it to. Should I actually be in this directory to do the actual build commands?

Secondly, I use NVIDIA's nforce2 and graphics drivers, so how do I get the information and modules etc for these incorporated when I build the new kernel. Surely I don't have to fully install the driver packages again after I get linux running with the new kernel?

Thank you.

Hi

I put it in /usr/src and unpack it with This depend on what kind of kernelchange you've made. If you are still using the same kernelversion you don't have to rekompile the driverpackage. If you've change anything of importance then you have to rerun the driver installer. I always keep the NVIDIA*.run script so I can rerun it after I've changed anything in my kernel. Then you don't have to download it again...

Good luck!

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

Can I ask a little more on the second point for clarification?

At the moment I am running a 2.4 version kernel and I have already installed nforce2 and graphics driver packages. I want to now atttempt to build a 2.6 version kernel to use on the same PC. With regard to the nvidia packages, is there some script included with the original zipped driver package that I need to run or do I have to run the full installers again?.

Thank you.

Hi again

I'm not sure what you mena with You have to rerun the driver file named something like "NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8174-pkg1.run" with:
That will build a new driver module and place it in the right place in /lib/modules/kernelversion...
If you change from a 2.4 to a 2.6 kernel you definately need to recompile the driver.

You're welcome. :-)

Thank you yet again.

You recommended the following command:

I guess I have a real beginner's question now: what is the function of the ./ bit before the file name?.

Thank you again.

./ is just to define that the filer NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8174-pkg1.run lies in your current working directory.

Just to be a pedantic ass about it, passing a script as an argument to sh doesn't require ./ before the script name.

LOL!

Really. -Thanks for clarifying vls. I wasn't really sure on how to run a script with sh. I've always done something like this

I saw the sh part on the NVIDIA site and put ./ in front of the scriptfile just to be clear about that sh was to be passed with the correct path to the scriptfile. So that the file want downloaded into one directory and sh scriptfile was run in another.

aren't there drivers for nvidia on the 2.6 kernel ? coz i remember seeing them when i was doing a menuconfig and selecting stuff

to be another pedantic ass , you dont need to unpack it into /usr/src. you can unpack it into your home directory. that way you can build as user, not root.

This is one of the best slackware kernel howto's ive found.

2.6 Kernel howto

soule

edit

you can use "nv" for nvidia drivers, unless you want 3d features i beleive.