I'm trying to compile FreeS/WAN, and I'm getting the following error while trying to compile

$ make oldmod
*** cannot find "/usr/src/linux-2.4/.config"!!
*** perhaps kernel has never been configured?
*** please do that first; the results are necessary.
make: *** [precheck] Error 1

Here are the contents of /usr/src/linux-2.4 ...

$ ls -a
. COPYING.modules fs lib README
.. CREDITS include MAINTAINERS REPORTING-BUGS
arch crypto init Makefile Rules.make
configs Documentation ipc mm scripts
COPYING drivers kernel net tmp_include_depends

I'm running RH9.0, and I can't really think of any other relevant info to give you guys. What do I do now?

u need the file ".config"

if im right then its the file that is savedwhen u exit make menuconfig, it should have your kernel options and such so the program can configure itself to the kernel, so go configure the kernel like it says (note to distro makers: this is what not to do, include the linux source but forget to include the config files, every distro should have a properly configure kernel source treee for apps like these

How do I "configure" the kernel?

*bump*

go to the kernel source tree and inssue the folwoing comands:
make {mrproper,menuconfig}
make {dep,bzImage,modules,modules_install}
cp {System.map,arch/i386/boot/bzImage} /boot
lilo
after the first part you can configure the kernel, when your done click on the exit option, and it will ask you if you want to save, say yes then issue the 2nd comand

if you dont have lilo then use the proper replace ment so teh boot laoder know of the kernel change