I have searched the forums and could not find much talking about recompile issues. I have been spending much time in the kernel configuration options trying to get the perfect setup but every new compile I do, I copy the .config file, do a 'make mrproper' and copy the .config file back to /usr/src/linux. After I clean the directory, I 'make modules && make modules_install', after that I issue 'make' to compile the kernel. So my question is: do I have to ' make mrproper', 'make modules && make modules_install' EVERY time I recompile? Or is it unnecessary? I have had problems like the compile would just stop without making the bzImage if I did not run 'make modules && make modules_install' before the compile. Is there some way around this?

The make mrproper command is only needed the first time one creates the new kernel tree (decompress the tar file).

Your order is wrong, the steps in order are;

make mrproper (use make clean after the first time)
make oldconfig (or copy/use a known good .config file here)
make menuconfig (or xconfig or gconfig here; for tweaking the configuration)
make
make modules_install
make install

Suggested reading; http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kern...a_nutshell.pdf

Hi,

Not totally correct. You run 'make mrproper' anytime you want to bring the tree to a pristine condition. Remove anything stale or not relevant to the new session. Therefore when you create a new tree with the tar of a kernel you will remove any possible threat by issuing 'make mrproper'. Not a bad idea or habit. The 'make clean' is not as aggressive.

Look at 'make' Commands Defined' LQ post. Good!


This link and others can be found at 'Slackware-Links' .

Thanks for the quick reply and detailed explanation of the use of make. I am still new to building custom kernels but catching on. Thanks again!

onebuck: Thanks for the links!