Kernel configuration could not be read??

rberry88 · 08-30-2003, 07:24 PM

I'm running SuSE 8.2 and trying to install the Nvidia drivers for my Geforce4 Ti 4400 video card. I follow all the instructions and the nvidia installer starts but says it needs to recompile and wants to do it from the ftp site but it always returns an error.

So I'm checking things out and go into Kde control center and click on Linux kernel and it returns this message:

The kernel configuration could not be read due to the following error:
cannot open /usr/src/linux/arch//config.in for reading
Either your kernel sources contain invalid configuration rules or you just found a bug in the KDE Kernel Configurator.

Any advice on how to proceed??

rberry88

fancypiper · 08-30-2003, 08:13 PM

Install kernel-source

# Compiling/installing kernel modules
You will need to have installed:
1. The developmental packages (compiler)
2. The kernel source code that matches your running kernel
3. The module source or install code

Check out your system and look under the hood and see if you installed the stuff you need to do the job. Open an x terminal and type in this sequence of commands to see what kernel we are running and see if you have the kernel source installed:

Code:

[fancy@tinwhistle fancy]$ su -
Password: 
[root@tinwhistle root]# uname -r
2.4.18-3

I am running kernel version 2.4.18-3. Do I have the proper source code?

Code:

[root@tinwhistle root]# cd /usr/src
[root@tinwhistle src]# ls -alc
total 3
drwxr-xr-x    4 root     root          136 Jun 12 14:53 .
drwxr-xr-x   16 root     root          424 Jun  4 12:04 ..
lrwxrwxrwx    1 root     root           14 Jun  4 12:11 linux-2.4 -> linux-2.4.18-3
drwxr-xr-x   16 root     root          584 Jun  4 12:11 linux-2.4.18-3
drwxr-xr-x    7 root     root          168 Jun  4 12:08 redhat
[root@tinwhistle src]#

I do have the same kernel version source code installed in the directory /usr/src/linux-2.4.18-3 and there is a symbolic link named linux-2.4 pointing to it.

If you don't see something similiar to this (but in color), you will need to install the kernel source.

NOTE: I noticed that Red Hat didn't make the symbolic link /usr/src/linux that all of the INSTALL files that I have read mentioned that I need, so I may as well make one now to save editing the files in the source code to install.So, I'll make it just now:

Code:

[root@tinwhistle src]# ln -s linux-2.4.18-3 linux         
[root@tinwhistle src]# ls -alc
total 3
drwxr-xr-x    4 root     root          160 Jun 12 15:46 .
drwxr-xr-x   16 root     root          424 Jun  4 12:04 ..
lrwxrwxrwx    1 root     root           14 Jun 12 15:46 linux -> linux-2.4.18-3
lrwxrwxrwx    1 root     root           14 Jun  4 12:11 linux-2.4 -> linux-2.4.18-3
drwxr-xr-x   16 root     root          584 Jun  4 12:11 linux-2.4.18-3
drwxr-xr-x    7 root     root          168 Jun  4 12:08 redhat
[root@tinwhistle src]#

Ah, there it is, so that's done.

Next, did I install the compiler?

Code:

[root@tinwhistle src]# gcc -v          
Reading specs from /usr/lib/gcc-lib/i386-redhat-linux/2.96/specs
gcc version 2.96 20000731 (Red Hat Linux 7.3 2.96-113)
[root@tinwhistle src]#

Yes, I have a compiler installed.

If you don't have those two things installed, you have to install them first off your install CD.

If they are installed, download the source and happy comiling.

Make sure you carefully read the README and INSTALL files after extracting and before compiling/installing.

# Guides to software management
LNAG - How do I install a program I downloaded from the Internet?
Rute Guide's software explanation
You might want to check out CheckInstall to manage source code installations/uninstallation

rberry88 · 08-30-2003, 08:30 PM

I believe I have big problems:

--------------------------------------------
rberry88@linuxxp:~> su
Password:
linuxxp:/home/rberry88 # uname -r
2.4.20-4GB-athlon
linuxxp:/home/rberry88 # cd /usr/src
linuxxp:/usr/src # ls -alc
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 72 2003-08-24 10:26 .
drwxr-xr-x 12 root root 368 2003-08-25 21:59 ..
drwxr-xr-x 7 root root 168 2003-08-24 10:32 packages
linuxxp:/usr/src #
--------------------------------------------------------------

Now I have checked all the boxes in YAST2 under 'install and remove software' except for: k_deflt, k_psmp and k_smp. Is one of these needed to accomplish what I want to do??

Thanks for being patient.

rberry88

fancypiper · 08-30-2003, 08:42 PM

Can you find a package with the name kernel-source in it?

rberry88 · 08-30-2003, 08:52 PM

I searched through KPackage and in YAST2 'install and remove software' and nothing with kernel and source comes up.

Is it supposed to be on the installation discs that I got when I purchased SuSE 8.2?? If it is not on the discs could you point me to where I can get it.

rberry88

fancypiper · 08-30-2003, 08:58 PM

I would guess you could find it in the SuSE ftp site somewhere

ftp.suse.com/pub/suse/i386/8.2/

gizmogadgetus · 08-30-2003, 09:17 PM

Your kernel source should be installed under /usr/src/linux*** where *** is the kernel version. I don't think this is your problem however. I've seen a few problems with SuSE and the NVidia drivers due to a problem with the kernel.h file in the include directory.

There may be an easy solution. You're running an athlon processor under SuSE 8.2, which installs your kernel as 2.4.20-4GB-athlon. This is correct, and the source under /usr/src/linux is correct. But SuSE has a known bug in the install. under /usr/src/linux***/include/linux/version.h there will be a line that says "2.4.20-4GB". Use an editor and change this to "2.4.20-4GB-athlon" and save the file. Then run the nvidia installer with the --kernel-version=2.4.20-4GB-athlon option and it should work.

Good Luck,
Gizmo

rberry88 · 08-30-2003, 11:24 PM

The problem was I didn't have the kernel-source on my system. I downloaded it from the ftp site and -ivh it and everything works wonderfully. Now on to fix my sound problem.

I am so happy that I can at least play Tux Racer.

rberry88