I am using Kernel version 2.6.18 and I use initrd image in the grub menu to boot my kernel.

Recently, someone posted his own Kernel Config file (2.6.19) file which is free from initrd support i.e. it does not require the initd line in the grub menu during the boot.

Now the problem is that my config file 2.6.18 is highly customized but I would like to get the changes from 2.6.19 file which are related to making initrd free kernel configuration.

Is there any way by which I can still retain all the settings of my 2.6.18 file and add the settings (to make initrd free) from 2.6.19 file to my existing 2.6.18 file?

Thanks

The problem is that for the same settings you are going to have two different values. Which one is "correct"? For some settings, you want your customizations (config "A" get precedence) and for some you want the other setting (config "B" gets precedence). There's no way to automate such a configuration merge, because it's not a merge at all.

What you can do is diff the two configs to see where the changes are and select which you want. You'll then have to manually update your config with the new values.

Thanks for the info. I was thinking along the same lines but thought may be first I should ask the experts..:

should I just diff the regular way or are there any specific options that I need to give?

Alternatively, I was thinking if you know what changes one have to make in order to make your kernel free from initrd. I heard someone said that you need to compile the filesystem driver into the kernel and not the module. Do you know anything about it?

Thanks your help is much appreciated.

I personally would probably open a meld (GUI diff) window on the two files, and go though the make xconfig on your config to change the needed options.