LinuxQuestions.org - Can't run iotop on the latest PCLinuxOS, kernel parameters missing

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Can't run iotop on the latest PCLinuxOS, kernel parameters missing

I'm determined to have a go at using a distro that isn't Debian- or Ubuntu-based, so I'm giving a shot to PCLinuxOS. I installed the 2014.12 Mate version, and after a couple tweaks it's working pretty well, but I can hear constant disk access. I'd like to figure out what's accessing the drive, so I installed iotop, but it gives me this output:

Code:

[root@longcat ~]# iotop

Could not run iotop as some of the requirements are not met:

- Linux >= 2.6.20 with

  - I/O accounting support (CONFIG_TASKSTATS, CONFIG_TASK_DELAY_ACCT, CONFIG_TASK_IO_ACCOUNTING)

I checked the options by zcatting /proc/config.gz

Code:

[root@longcat ~]# zcat /proc/config.gz | grep TASKST

CONFIG_TASKSTATS=y

[root@longcat ~]# zcat /proc/config.gz | grep TASK_DE

CONFIG_TASK_DELAY_ACCT=y

[root@longcat ~]# zcat /proc/config.gz | grep CONFIG_TASK_IO

[root@longcat ~]#

So apparently I'm missing the last option. What do I do to enable it? I don't know the first thing about kernel tinkering (hence my posting in this subforum), so if there's any recompiling to be done I've no idea how to do it.

According to the Kconfig, CONFIG_TASK_IO_ACCOUNTING depends on CONFIG_TASK_XACCT. May explain it's absence.

So yes, you'll need to get hold of the kernel source tree, make your changes, compile and install it. PCLinuxOS may have a patched tree available (so you get all their changes) - their support fora/wiki would be the place to look.
Else there are innumerable how-to's on the web - search "kernel compile linux".