I'm trying to update my Slackware kernel from 2.4.22 to 2.6.6. I have the full source code downloaded and this is what I have been told to do (but I haven't done anything yet):


cd /usr/src

rm linux

tar -zxvf linux-2.6.6

ln -s /usr/src/linux-2.6.6 /usr/src/linux

cd linux

make mrproper

cp /usr/src/linux-2.4.22/.config /usr/src/linux

make menuconfig

(I guess for previous kernels you were supposed to do a "make dep" and then "make clean" here, but with 2.6.x and on you don't have to. Please correct me if this info is wrong)

make bzImage

make modules

make modules_install

rm -rf /boot/System.map

rm -rf /boot/vmlinuz

cp /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.6

cp /usr/src/linux/System.map /boot/System.map-2.6.6

ln -s /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.6 /boot/vmlinuz

ln -s /boot/System.map-2.6.6 /boot/System.map

rm -rf /boot/initrd.2.4.22.img

The next step is supposed to be "/sbin/mkinitrd /boot/initrd-2.6.6.img 2.6.6" but I've discovered that the mkinitrd utility doesn't even exsist for Slackware and you have to manually create the image file. Problem is, I have no idea how to do this and can't find that information anywhere.

After that I would edit the lilo.conf file to be:

image = /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.6
label = Slackware-2.6.6
root = /dev/hdc2
read-only

And then run /sbin/lilo


Some of this doesn't seem right to me, but then again I don't know jack about Slackware (or Unix/Linux in general for that matter). Currently I have Windows XP and Slackware with the 2.4.22 kernel dual booting flawlessly on a Dell 5100, but the last time I tried to use these commands I ended up with a kernel panic. Can anyone help me out? Let me know if you need more info or if there are typo's somewhere in the commands.

I would normally do this:
cd /usr/src

rm linux

tar -zxvf linux-2.6.6

ln -s /usr/src/linux-2.6.6 /usr/src/linux

cd linux

make mrproper

make menuconfig

make && make modules_install


cp /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.6

cp /usr/src/linux/System.map /boot/System.map-2.6.6

In lilo , i change the original kernel from vmlinuz to vmlinuz-ide-2.4.22(you can find this in /boot) for the old kernel as back up if my new one fails. Add an identical sets of lilo lines for my new kernel, naming the right file name (vmlinuz-2.6.6) as i did on top.

Basically i use http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handboo...?part=1&chap=7 as my guide, it's usable on slack too.

Make sure all your compilers and whatnot are up to date, thought they should be with 9.1, except for module-utils. I'm not sure what else, I think that's all i had to update...get that from slack current.
In fact, I'd recommend using swaret or something to get up to current, but i don't think that's absolutely necessary.
I'd use the guide from shilo...worked for me
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...=slackware+sys

Be sure to create a sys directory and mount it in fstab. It's also in the guide. Good luck!

My 2.6 version you don't have to make modules. It does it itself when you issues make.
That was the only difference between the steps of kernels 2.4 to 2.6
install the source
cd /usr/src
ln -s /usr/src/linux-2.6.# linux
make mrproper
make clean
make your_flavor_config
make dep
nohuo make bzImage 1>kernel.out 2>modules.err &
less kernel.out #check for errors
less modules.err #check for errors
#if all is well
make modules_install

then do the standard copies to the /boot
edit /etc/lilo.conf
lilo
reboot

And cross your fingers cause building and installing 2.6.# seems to break alot of stuff...
IMO 2.6 is buggy at least to slack. To much requires recompile or re-install after a kernel upgrade to 2.6

Use these directions, they worked perfect for me. I'm now running slack 9.1 with kernel 2.6.6. Follow the steps exactly.

http://www.geocities.com/jtarin47/linux/

Make sure you update module-init-tools to 3.0pre4 or u wont be able to
make the modules after u compile the kernel. Good luck :-)

one suggestion - don't delete the existing kernel, and add a new entry to lilo.conf instead of editing the existing one, plus add a "prompt" option to lilo.conf if you don't have one - then lilo will give you an option of which kernel to boot, and it gives you a way out if the new kernel won't boot for some reason.

(yes, I learned this the hard way )

If youre having problems with Nvidia drivers and kernel 2.6 get your Nvidia drivers here:

http://www.sh.nu/download/nvidia/linux-2.6/

They are patched for kernel 2.6.xx

I had no issues w/ Slack 9.1 & 2.6.X . All I updated is core utilities just because I got over the uname -a being wrong.
L8tr
Feend