Installing new kernel with rpm on redhat
 

I wanted to install an updated kernel on my redhat systems 8 and 9. i gave the command:
rpm -Uvh kernel-2.4.20-18.9.src.rpm.

then it looked as if it was installing by showing:
1 kernel: ############################# 100%

then it just went back to the command prompt. I checked /etc/src to see if the sourc code was there, it was not. I ran rpm -qa it did not show up, i checked grub.conf and there was no change. Can someone please tell me where I'm going wrong?

Have you checked /usr/src/redhat/SOURCE ?

Well you installed the kernel source not a kernel. (src.rpm) Unless you want to compile your own kernel you don't need the source.

Download the prober *.rpm package and do a
rpm -ivh kernel-2.4.20-18.9.rpm
Never use -uvh!! Since this replaces your old kernel with new one.
Then edit Lilo or grub whatever you have to boot the new kernel.
Reboot.
Done.

I use up2date to update my kernel. It does everything for you!

ahhh but....
 

the only problem with up2date is that you have to wait for redhat to post it.

If you download the source and compile it yourself you get the new version sooner.

I compiled once and saw no speed difference so now I wait for Redhat to post it and I get it from them.

If it all goes well compiling is great to know. If it goes wrong...start running ;)


good luck

Medic6666

Thank you all for your help. I got a hold of kernel-2.4.20-18.9.i686.rpm and i worked. It replaced my original kernel (which is ok) and managed to find kernel-source-2.4.20-18.9.i386.rpm that gave the source files. It took alot of hunting, but i finally got the right ones to work. coudn't do it without your suggestions.