kernel 2.6.8 fedora message logging
 

I just recompiled a new kernel 2.6.8 with ntfs support and I'm trying to start it. It starts to load the kernel and then it crashes, but when it does, the screen goes blank except for a small blinking cursor in the upper left hand corner of the screen. It doesn't even start to load anything from the hard drive. It doesn't get a chance (i'm assuming) to write to the /var/log/dmesg file with a log of what happened. And when i boot up a good kernel, there isn't any way to check the log because the good kernel overwrites the dmesg file every time.

what should I do? I've recompiled a new kernel with the default options and that kernel works without a problem, but i'm trying to slim it down a bit and reduce the amount of modules it needs too. I have no way of sending the messages to any sort of serial port for debugging either because 1) i don't exactly know how that works, and 2) i don't have any devices plugged into the serial ports.

Thanks in advance,
-Todd

hi

for all messages look into
/var/log/messages file
and try building from the config file of ur good kernel,the defaults in the kernel might not work for u

also which distro u r using

regards

apparently the kernel doesn't get far enough to start the logger or something. When i restart, it logs the shutdown messages, and then when i boot up using the defective kernel, it won't log those messages. There is no trace of me booting up the defective kernel at all..

I'm just trying to figure out what I need in the kernel for my system and what I don't...

-Todd

i'm using fedora

hi
did u try compilng the kernel from the config file of ur working older kernel

this way i have ben able to successfull kernel

regards

yes, i can compile a new kernel just fine and get my system to work correctly with that kernel.

When I modify the .config file though so I can create a modified kernel for my system, the options I'm deselecting must be needed for my system. I'm trying to figure out which options are needed, and which aren't.

some specs...
Athlon 500 Mhz w/ IronGate Chipset
Promise Ultra 100 Controller
IBM 10 Gb hdd (Fedora, ext 3 w/ journaling)
Samsung 120 Gb hdd (WinXP, ntfs)
Aureal Vortex 2 Diamond Monster mx300
Ati All-in-wonder radeon 7200 AGP
Linksys 10/100 Eth0

I'm just trying to figure out what options I need and don't need.

-Todd

hi there

i have compile my kernel for a no. of times(more than 70 times)
and i have slowly and steadily removed optins from my kernel.(which took initialy 5-6 times)
for the modules i am not sure what to do ,i remove one or two of them so that i can be sure when my kernel does not work then what went wrong

and i think after compiling 4-5 times u will sort out all the matters ,
and i won't be able to specify ur needs since u ned to start frm the config file of the working kernel

u can remove tha FS support u do not want
then u can remove support for all other video cards/sound cards other than ur device(u can se which on u have by 'lspci')


then u can remove many networking options if u have a standalone box
and initially u wion't be able to read about functions of maximim modules but l;ater reading these descriptions of modules will help u more understanding the kernel and the system


regards