First kernel compile. woohoo!
 

Just successfully compiled kernel 4.2.21 from the source tar! After 5 years of using Linux I finally got motivated enough to make it work. Highlights include(d):

-- compiled the kernel and all the modules I needed on the first shot with no problems. Thank god for tldp!

-- kernel size is now ~800k as opposed to the stock 4.2.8-mdk kernel that was just over a 1mb.

-- getting everything working properly afterward only required an upgrade of iptables and lm_sensors.

-- now I can't stop typing `uname -r`.


Additional concerns:

-- I want to upgrade glibc to version 2.3, but it appears I'll have to do a LOT of other things first. Anyone have any suggestions or know of any "gotchas" for upgrading glibc package by package? ****UPDATE: I've been reading a lot of threads about glibc upgrade nightmares. This idea is on hold for now...

-- Does anyone know how to fool the RPM database into thinking that I used the 2.4.21 kernel rpm? I don't want to have to type "--nodeps" every time I install a package that looks at the kernel version...


All in all, a very smooth-going task :-)

Cheers,

joeface

You mean 2.4.21-0.18mdk?

Did you uninstall the 2.4.21 kernel then? Or is yours now named ...custom or something?
If you're sure you've got the modules, forcing it to ignore the kernel version shouldnt be too bad.

Wait for 9.2 if you wanna update glibc, that's probably the only safe way-a new install.

I avoided the mdk kernel (even the source rpm) just to see if I could compile the vanilla version from kernel.org.

I kept my old kernel (2.4.8-mdk) as a backup, but 2.4.21 works very well so I decided to keep it running. From what I've been reading, you're right -- it makes more sense to do a clean install rather than a glibc upgrade, so I can start planning that rather than wasting my time breaking the box :)

Thanks for your reply!

joeface