Can I use a kernel from Slack 12.2 on my Slackware 11.0 system?
 

I was running Slackware 11.0 on a very old box which died. I was able to rsync the files to a new box, and everything works but the ethernet card isn't detected. I have spent hours searching and it seems the most reliable way to support this card (Realtek RTL8201CL) is by using a newer kernel. I found many reports of problems with this card and using the Realtek driver doesn't sound like a sure solution.

If I can't use a kernel from 12.2 then can somebody give me some pointers to good kernel compilation guides for Slackware? I'm searching now but getting many results and I don't know how to tell the good ones from the bad ones and I need to get this system running asap.

Thanks guys.

You shouldn't have any trouble using the newer kernel, I think. There might be issues with the device naming, but I think you will have nor problems.

Thanks, I'm about to try it. All I have to do is put it in boot and rerun lilo pointing at it, right?

crash bang boom. I guess I need the kernel modules too. Anything else?

AFAIK the last kernel that will work with 11.0 without without major hassle is the 2.6.24.x series.
EDIT: but if gnashley says you can run later, you probably can.

You can't just install a package (expecially a core one, like the kernel) from a later version and expect it to work (unless it says noarch). Too many things have changed, especially between 11.0 and 12.2. You can usually use the slackbuilds though.

However, even if you compile the kernel and modules using the slackbuilds you will to probably need to update udev and possibly even messagebus, hal and alsa. Basically you could end up updating so many packages you might as well install 12.2

I want to install 12.2, but I can't download it. Nothing works for me, not the torrent and not the tds mirror. I get my rated speed from various speed test sites but I can't download most things I try downloading. I don't know what's wrong.

I have a dead box and I need to bring my 11.0 system back up on the new box. If gnashley says the 12.2 kernel should work, then it should work! I hope he's right.

Do you know where I can get a 2.6.24.x kernel to try?

Kernel.org will have the source for the 2.6.24 series Whatever kernel you use you will be better off biulding it from scratch, using the slackware kernel .config file as a base.

I can try but I never compiled a kernel before. How long does it take the first time?

The smp kernel from 12.2 appears to work. I have a few things to tweak. I hope it is really ok! Thanks guys.

Either install the modules or go with the huge kernel to avoid needing them so much. The kernel itself is pretty agnostic about which glibc version etc are being used on the system, but within limits. The 2.6.27 does have some major changes in it, but I've been building a system scratch which is knid of a cross between slack-11 and later versions. I'm using glibc-2.3.6 double compiled(as in slack-11) with and without nptl support for use with kernel 2.4 or 2.6. I'm using headers 2.4.37 and 2.6.27 for compiling glibc and then run either kernel or even a 2.6.16.62 one. No glitcegs so far...
If it works far enough to get you updated, then great!

Compile time depends on your computer, about half an hour on mine.

There are a couple of good guides on this forum that will tell you how to build a 2.6 kernel, but to be brief:

READ the readme file that comes with the kernel

untar the source to where you are going to build, some choose a directory under usr/src , some under their home directory

place the 2.6.x .config you want to use a base for your configuration in the kernel source directory

run 'make oldconfig' and choose the default for any changes

run 'make menuconfig' and make any changes you want, like having your root filesystem in the kernel instead of a module.

'make' to make the kernel and modules

'make install' installs the kernel vmlinuz image in /boot (usually defaults to vmlinuz)

and 'make modules install' installs modules

create an initrd if necessary (eg if you left your root filesystem as a module)

Make sure there is an entry for your kernel image in /etc/lilo.conf (and one for a backup kernel)

and RERUN LILO!

Please don't take this as gospel, I am far from an expert on building kernels. Read several guides before attempting to build a kernel, but as long as you have a backup kernel in you lilo, you should be ok

EDIT Great that you got 2.6.27.7 up and running!

There is sticky thread called "kernel compile guide"

Expect one hour at least, even with a good howto. During first time you might make few errors, etc. But there is nothing incredibly difficult in compiling kernel.

Thanks very much, everybody. My vpn is broken and I can't rebuild it but most things seem to be working. If I can get the vpn going it will be all I need until I get 12.2

Do *not* run 'make install' to install the kernel -do that step manually, by copying over the finished bzImage, System.map and config file and then rename the bzImage and System.map to an appropriate name which matches the new lilo entry you create.

Ok guys I got the 12.2 downloaded last night. If it works with my realtek NIC I will try to survive by limping along until I get it configured and all the stuff I need on it. In the meantime I'm running Slack 11.0 with the 2.6.27.27_smp kernel. Only problem is no VPN.

Thanks for all the links and other info, I will hold off compiling kernels until later. If I get Slack working with my NIC I will restore the 2.6.17.13 kernel on my Slack 11 box so I can get my VPN working.