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Old 04-30-2004, 10:22 PM   #1
robertn
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advise upgrade kernel?


Mandrake 9.1 rc2 with 2.4.21-0.11mdk kernel:

urpmi kernel
One of the following packages is needed:
1- kernel-2.4.21.0.13mdk-1-1mdk.i586
2- kernel-enterprise-2.4.21.0.13mdk-1-1mdk.i586
3- kernel-secure-2.4.21.0.13mdk-1-1mdk.i586
4- kernel-smp-2.4.21.0.13mdk-1-1mdk.i586
5- kernel-secure-2.4.21.0.30mdk-1-1mdk.i586
6- kernel-smp-2.4.21.0.30mdk-1-1mdk.i586
7- kernel-2.4.21.0.30mdk-1-1mdk.i586
8- kernel-enterprise-2.4.21.0.30mdk-1-1mdk.i586
What is your choice? (1-8)

rpm -Va | grep miss
missing /boot/kernel.h-2.4.21
missing /usr/lib/mozilla-1.3/chrome/overlayinfo/inspector
missing /usr/lib/mozilla-1.3/chrome/overlayinfo/inspector/conte

urpmi kernel-source
To satisfy dependencies, the following packages are going to be installed (173 MB):
binutils-2.13.90.0.18-3mdk.i586
gcc-3.2.2-3mdk.i586
kernel-source-2.4.21-0.30mdk.i586
libbinutils2-2.13.90.0.18-3mdk.i586
libncurses5-devel-5.3-1.20030215.1mdk.i586
Is this OK? (Y/n) n

urpmi kernel-headers
To satisfy dependencies, the following packages are going to be installed (16 MB):
glibc-2.3.1-10.1.91mdk.i586
glibc-devel-2.3.1-10.1.91mdk.i586
Is this OK? (Y/n) n

Would like to install and "shave" my own kernel. With the above information just produced by my setup, could some thoughtful members give some input. It should be obvious that I have urpmi configured to an ftp site but that none of the above commands has been followed through.

Which choices and what actions should I take; short answers are OK. If I need more info, I can ask. Thanks to all the great resources obtainable here.

robertn

Last edited by robertn; 04-30-2004 at 10:31 PM.
 
Old 05-01-2004, 03:26 AM   #2
adz
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Quote:
Would like to install and "shave" my own kernel.
What does this mean? I'm not sure what you're talking about.

If you wish to upgrade your kernel, my general advice to you would be to get the source and compile it yourself. First compile is always the hardest. After that it gets much easier.
 
Old 05-01-2004, 05:19 AM   #3
motub
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I wouldn't so much suggest that under Mandrake, adz-- who knows what patches and fixes they've put into their kernels that you'd lose using the vanilla kernel source-- and under Mandrake, losing such patches could likely break something serious.

What I'm wondering is what is the point of upgrading 2.4.21 to a later revision of 2.4.21? Seems to me that it would be more useful to head over to the 10.0 repositories, or Cooker, and get 2.4.26 or 2.6.whatever.

In any case, the best explanation of what you need for what you're trying to do is provided by mandrakeuser.org in their MUO - Installation - Kernel Upgrade I document.

Hope this helps.
 
Old 05-01-2004, 07:44 AM   #4
adz
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Well bollocks to mandrake, then. You hear me??? I said bollocks!!

<ahem> Well they should provide the source somewhere for you to compile...
 
Old 05-01-2004, 07:52 AM   #5
motub
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Yes, they do... the kernel-source rpms. One can compile those by hand if one wants, but at least they already include whatever code tweaks MDK has added that a new user (or even an old user) couldn't possibly know about.

But hey, I'm not going to argue with you about the "bollocks"... I admire Mandrake tremendously, but.... and it's the "buts" (and there are so many of them... too many, ultimately) that sent me first to Slackware and finally to Gentoo, where I am quite happy.

It's still a great first distro, though... or at least 9.2 was. Very very leery of 10.0 atm (not that I have any need for a second distro anymore).
 
Old 05-01-2004, 08:09 AM   #6
/bin/bash
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The first command urpmi kernel is unnecessary since this will install a kernel and you want to build your own. All you need is the sources. Which is what the second command urpmi kernel-sources will do, so you should answer yes and let it install all the dependencies for you. Also answer yes to the third command urpmi kernel-headers.

Now you can build a kernel of your own. As someone suggested you should start just building a stock Mandrake kernel. When you get comfortable with it you can go to www.kernel.org and get latest sources and build your own. Also the only thing I've ever broken building my own was supermount but I always disable that anyway. You can always patch supermount back into your kernel if you feel you need it.
 
Old 05-01-2004, 12:25 PM   #7
robertn
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By "shave", I meant to express an assumption that I presently make that when compiling a kernel, I would be able to edit out or eliminate functions that I do not need on my simple set-up thereby improving the speed of the system. Perhaps this is a misapprehension or not a good idea.

The basic point is just to learn about compiling; I hesitated to get the latest and greatest (2.4.26 or 2.6) because of my concern that my present 9.1 rc2 software would not run correctly using advanced kernels. Perhaps this too is a misapprehension.

Doesn't supermount allow for the easy accessing of the floppy drive and the CDROM drive both at the command line and the GUI? I would hate to lose this.

Thanks for the replies; I am going to "do something" probably along the lines of /bin/bash--but will allow some time for pursuing the references provided and additional study. Also thanks for the encouragement.

Additional Question: Living in a semi-remote area, I have only dial-up available. A full update urpmi would take a rather long time and would probably be interrupted by a hang-up. Theoretically, could I do the upgrading "a piece at a time"? This is separate from the kernel compile question and refers to using the updated sources available by the successful "urpmi configure" that I performed on the WWW.

Thanks again for any considered input. robertn
 
Old 05-01-2004, 12:51 PM   #8
motub
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Quote:
Originally posted by robertn
By "shave", I meant to express an assumption that I presently make that when compiling a kernel, I would be able to edit out or eliminate functions that I do not need on my simple set-up thereby improving the speed of the system. Perhaps this is a misapprehension or not a good idea.
No, that's right... that's pretty much the main reason to "roll your own", as there is obviously no way for the developers to know just what your setup is. So yes, you can certainly eliminate things that you know you don't need, such as ISA bus support if your motherboard doesn't have any ISA slots, and so forth.
Quote:
Originally posted by robertn
The basic point is just to learn about compiling; I hesitated to get the latest and greatest (2.4.26 or 2.6) because of my concern that my present 9.1 rc2 software would not run correctly using advanced kernels. Perhaps this too is a misapprehension.
To some degree yes, to some degree no. There are some changes in 2.6 that the software and hardware that ran fine on 2.4 kernels has not yet caught up to. And since (afaik), 2.4.26 contains some backported 2.6 patches, you might be right, but of course, it depends on your hardware and software setup; you might not have any problem devices, or use any problem software. However, as they say, "discretion is the better part of valor," and it's your PC, so if you'd rather be cautious, then that's your good right .
Quote:
Originally posted by robertn
Doesn't supermount allow for the easy accessing of the floppy drive and the CDROM drive both at the command line and the GUI? I would hate to lose this.
Yes, it does-- actually it eliminates the need to use the command-line to mount the removeable drives. When it works, which under Mandrake, it does not, always. However I'm using kernel 2.6.3 (admittedly under Gentoo and not Mandrake), and it does in fact work (for me). And it's not the world's worst crisis to have to mount CDs manually, but it is a pain, and when supermount works properly, it is a nice feature. So I can see why you'd rather not break it if possible.
Quote:
Originally posted by robertn
Thanks for the replies; I am going to "do something" probably along the lines of /bin/bash
Yes, that's exactly what Mandrake says to do as well, as you will see when you peruse the reference provided .
Quote:
Originally posted by robertn
Additional Question: Living in a semi-remote area, I have only dial-up available. A full update urpmi would take a rather long time and would probably be interrupted by a hang-up. Theoretically, could I do the upgrading "a piece at a time"?
Of course, if by "a piece at a time" you mean upgrading individual programs or groups of programs in one session, in your own time. Have you yet used Easy URPMI to add external sources to RPMDrake? Once you have done so, you can just go into the Mandrake Control Center=>Software Management=>RPMDrake (Install Software), change the filter from "Mandrake Choices" to "All Software by... (group, repository, alphabetical, as you prefer)" and then choose individual programs or several programs at once and upgrade them with one click of the "Install" button.

Hope this helps.
 
Old 05-01-2004, 03:07 PM   #9
robertn
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motub:

That was a great reply and just what I wanted to hear; I have gotten into big trouble by making false assumptions (and no doubt will get into trouble with correct assumptions also)

Funny you should mention ISA bus as this included architecture on my old setup was/is an indirect reason for my being "high" on Linux right now. I bought a US Robotics internal ISA true hardware modem on Ebay for $15.00 US including S&H and successfully configured it for use both on Win98SE (easy) and Linux (not easy-but learned a little Computer Science about serial ports) . This modem runs Linux at least 25% faster than Windows and so I surf the web with Mozilla and Linux. I will NOT disable this but the general confirmation of my assumption is appreciated.

As a matter of fact, Easy Urpmi configuration to external sources was accomplished just the other night. I got a modem hangup (Error 16) the first try but success on the second try with a total download of about 37 Mbytes in just under 2 hours. When I started to "urpmi urpmi && update -a", I bailed out when I saw the potential size and reasoned that what you described might be possible. All I want to try is to update say, Konqueror, Mozilla and play with the kernel as discussed. In addition to the MCC package manager that you mentioned, my 9.1 setup also has a Configuration-->Packaging access point that appears operable and really does recommend Mandrake for out of the "box" (3 CD-ROMs from CheapBytes) newbie friendly workability.

THANKS again for your on point responses. I have accessed the reference provided and downloaded a cut and paste version to a KATE text file for offline perusal. Will report with news for the record.

robertn
 
  


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