Kernel too large?
 

I've got Slack 10 on my Proliant Dual PPRO 200mhz running without issues.

When I go to enable SMP, I run make menuconfig and change only 2 things, the processor type (it shows 486, changed to Pentium Pro) and then enabled SMP with a max of 2 CPU's.

I got the error right after I ran make bzImage. It says the kernel is too large and lilo will not add the image to the MBR after i've changed lilo.conf.

Wtf am I missing here? Thanks.

Just run /sbin/lilo -v to take change in account, ignore kernel size message as it just advertising you that it is too big to copy it in a floppy boot disk

doesn't /sbin/lilo -v just show the version?
I did run lilo after and it gave the same error .. kernel too large.
I thought the error could be just as you said, only for a floppy is it too large.
However when I ran lilo after changing lilo.conf to append the new kernel .. it gives that error.

I'm just a little hesititant doing it again because it's running so nice now. =)

Thanks for the quick reply.

Just a quick question, did you copy the right file ? (arch/i386/boot/bzImage)

Also could you post your lilo.conf part where you add new kernel entry ?

When you get a chance, can you post the size in kilobytes your new kernel?

Cedrik - I checked out the /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/ and there was a bzImage which was just a bit smaller than my current kernel .. which would make sense.

I then copied it to /boot as vmlinuz.old and then ran lilo .. no problem. (my lilo.conf still has an entry for another kernel) Rebooted and I get a good ole Kernel Panic, VFS Unable to mount root fs on 08:05.

I'll post my lilo.conf

root@cerveza:/etc# cat lilo.conf
# LILO configuration file
# generated by 'liloconfig'
#
# Start LILO global section
append="nousb mem=exactmap mem=640K@0 mem=511M@1M"
boot = /dev/sda
message = /boot/boot_message.txt
prompt
timeout = 1200
# Override dangerous defaults that rewrite the partition table:
change-rules
reset
# Normal VGA console
vga = normal
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x64k
# vga=791
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x32k
# vga=790
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
# vga=773
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x64k
# vga=788
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x32k
# vga=787
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x256
# vga=771
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x64k
# vga=785
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x32k
# vga=784
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x256
# vga=769
# End LILO global section
# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /boot/vmlinuz
root = /dev/sda5
label = Linux
read-only
image = /boot/vmlinuz.old
root = /dev/sda5
label = Linux-SMP
read-only
# Linux bootable partition config ends

I only made one change in make menuconfig so I know I didnt disable any built in support.

Here's the /boot dir

root@cerveza:~# cd /boot/
root@cerveza:/boot# ls -l
total 4682
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 37 2004-09-28 01:50 README.initrd -> /usr/doc/mkinitrd-1.0.1/README.initrd
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 21 2004-09-28 01:49 System.map -> System.map-ide-2.4.26
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 620999 2004-06-14 20:29 System.map-ide-2.4.26
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 512 2004-09-28 02:58 boot.0800
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 168 2004-09-28 02:58 boot_message.txt
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 17 2004-09-28 01:49 config -> config-ide-2.4.26
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 41017 2004-06-14 20:29 config-ide-2.4.26
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 5032 2004-05-21 01:19 diag1.img
drwx------ 2 root root 12288 2004-09-28 01:44 lost+found/
-rw------- 1 root root 44032 2004-10-01 07:39 map
-r-------- 1 root root 1424782 2004-09-29 03:05 vmlinuz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1248111 2004-06-14 20:29 vmlinuz-ide-2.4.26
-r-------- 1 root root 1366029 2004-10-01 07:30 vmlinuz.old

Maybe I should retry recompiling the kernel?

Thanks again.

assuming your top post means
CONFIG_SMP=y
if you have 4 G of ram
CONFIG_NOHIGHMEM=n
CONFIG_HIGHMEM4G=y


2) The reason I asked the size of your new kernel is that grub can boot kernels up to 1440Kb in size

3) you may also consider the following to assist (=yes)
CONFIG_PREEMPT=y for speed
CONFIG_MODULE_FORCE_UNLOAD=y under loaded mod support so you can compile more drivers than you think you need but won't be forced to reboot
(according to LinuxUser & Developer magazine)

4) you can of course make most things modules but then you are forced to have a bigger initrd image to get your hardware recognised.

try on your booted system
lspci
cat /proc/cpuinfo

to confirm some of your stuff

Remove math emulation, that's 66k right there.

root@cerveza:~# lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corp. 440FX - 82441FX PMC [Natoma] (rev 02)
00:0d.0 PCI bridge: IBM IBM27-82351 (rev 01)
00:0f.0 PCI bridge: IBM IBM27-82351 (rev 07)
00:10.0 Network controller: Compaq Computer Corporation Netelligent 10/100 TX PCI UTP (rev 10)
00:12.0 Network controller: Compaq Computer Corporation Netelligent 10/100 TX PCI UTP (rev 10)
00:14.0 EISA bridge: Compaq Computer Corporation PCI to EISA Bridge (rev 07)
01:06.0 VGA compatible controller: Cirrus Logic GD 5430/40 [Alpine] (rev 22)
01:07.0 Network controller: Compaq Computer Corporation Netelligent Integrated 10/100 TX UTP (rev 10)
01:09.0 SCSI storage controller: LSI Logic / Symbios Logic 53c875 (rev 03)
02:00.0 Unknown mass storage controller: Compaq Computer Corporation Smart-2/P RAID Controller (rev 03)

I have a Proliant 2500 Dual Pentium Pro 200MHZ with 512 megs of ram.
my lilo.conf shows what I have to do to get 512 megs avail when 16 is only shown (mem=exactmap mem=640K@0 mem=511M@1M)

root@cerveza:~# cat /proc/cpuinfo
processor : 0
vendor_id : GenuineIntel
cpu family : 6
model : 1
model name : Pentium Pro
stepping : 9
cpu MHz : 199.466
cache size : 256 KB
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 2
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov
bogomips : 397.31

There's the cpuinfo ... only shows one CPU which is of course PPRO.

CONFIG_PREEMPT=y for speed
CONFIG_MODULE_FORCE_UNLOAD=y

I'll try these to see what changes it makes but currently my SMP kernal boots with a Kernel Panic.
Not sure why as I only changed the SMP to YES and the max CPUs to 2.

The reason I asked the size of your new kernel is that grub can boot kernels up to 1440Kb in size
Where did you see that ?

it probably sounds like boasting but heres my updated tutorial look for the emergency boot of large kernels on how to use 2 or 3 floppies .
as one floppy is devoted to the kernel its theoretical size is 1440 Kb

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...86#post1208786