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Old 09-30-2003, 06:46 AM   #1
twinkers
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What use does recompiling the kernel have?


I'm reading about recompiling quite a lot. I'm running 2.4.22-1-386 on my old PI Sid box (which you all have seen me fighting with ) and I'm wondering what use it would have to recompile it (or on any system) This old box is mainly for learning and finding out solutions for problems where I will run in when migrating to my main box. I like to learn it, but learning something with no use is pointless I guess. Is it something you have to do?

And if so, does anyone have the link to the step-by-step recomiling thread I read a few days ago? I can't find it anymore using search (it wasn't debian specific I think, does that matter?)
 
Old 09-30-2003, 06:55 AM   #2
iceman47
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recompiling the kernel has it's uses, like removing everything you don't need. (I don't use firewire -> no support for firewire in my kernel). It gets smaller that way and loads faster. Also, I don't use modules, so when I compile linux I can have it exactly the way I want it to be.
 
Old 09-30-2003, 07:03 AM   #3
guygriffiths
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You generally only need to recompile the kernel for specific reasons. If you don't know if you need to do it, then you probably don't.
The kernel needs recompiling to enable extra features into it. As an example, the reasons I have recompiled mine are:
To add USB support
To use DRI, which is basically hardware support for 3D cards
To add support for a dial-up modem
To optimise it for my CPU (Athlon)
To get automounting on CDROM and floppy drives
To upgrade to a new kernel version
Having said that, you will probably run into some reason to recompile it sooner or later, but until then, there's no real point.

It doesn't matter which distro you are using, recompiling the kernel is pretty much the same wherever you are.

There should be a step by step guide to installing the kernel in the INSTALL, or README file in the kernel source directory.
It's fairly straightforward - the tricky bit is choosing which options you need to make it work. ALWAYS back up your original kernel, or even better, don't write over the old one.
Once you've compiled a kernel, there will be file named arch/i386/boot/bzImage, which you copy to /boot/vmlinuz (normally). I recommend that you copy it to a different name, such as /boot/vmlinuz.dri (for example if you were compiling a new kernel with dri support) and add a new entry to /etc/lilo.conf (you can copy the old entry, and change the label and the path to vmlinuz). Then run lilo and reboot. Then if it all goes wrong, you can simply pick the old kernel and start again.
Hope that helps
Guy
 
Old 09-30-2003, 07:03 AM   #4
twinkers
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Well I guess on my PI a lot of stuff can be cut out. Where to start?
 
Old 09-30-2003, 07:21 AM   #5
m9dhatter
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kernel how-to

http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Kernel-HOWTO/

everything you need to know and more.
 
Old 09-30-2003, 07:43 AM   #6
twinkers
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Thanx, the extra label is a very good pointer. I'm trying to get as much out as I can so having one that will work is probabl needed!
So will can it vmlinuz.lite and have an extra lilo option created.

Regards
 
Old 09-30-2003, 08:59 AM   #7
guygriffiths
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Yep, but you NEED to run lilo as root before restarting, otherwise it just won't work
 
Old 10-04-2003, 12:20 PM   #8
Kroenecker
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I think this is what you want

http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=2949

By the way by using google and the words debian kernel compile, I was able to find it

Good luck. Not hard to do at all!
 
Old 10-06-2003, 10:46 AM   #9
pe2338
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Talking smarter

If you are using debian there is a goodie : make-kpkg

I made about 5 versions of 2.4.21 kernel just for the kicks of using it.....

You could say I am screwed up and you might be right....
 
  


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