First of all, I put this post in slackware so I can work to eliminate the possibility that I am having trouble compiling because of the distro I'm working from.

Anyways, here are the questions: has anyone ever compiled a kernel for a processor architecture other than the default i386? Anyone know the exact steps you need to take to do this? I am trying to do it for MIPS64 architecture. This is what i do:

1) unzip a 2.4.x kernel into /usr/src
2) change to the directory
3) copy the premade kernel config file into the directory
4) 'make menuconfig ARCH=mips64' <-- that actually loads a default mips64 config but i want to use another config file so i just specify that at the bottom of the menuconfig program
5) 'make dep ARCH=mips64'
6) 'make bzImage'

And immediately I get allll of these errors (note: i get the same errors if I use their default mips64 configuration, instead of mine) http://home.comcast.net/~stray_dog50.../mips64-errors

and if you export CFLAGS="-march=mips64 -mcpu=mips64" before make ?

at least from man gcc :

MIPS Options -mabicalls -march=cpu-type
-mtune=cpu=type -mcpu=cpu-type -membedded-data
-muninit-const-in-rodata -membedded-pic -mfp32
-mfp64 -mfused-madd -mno-fused-madd -mgas -mgp32
-mgp64 -mgpopt -mhalf-pic -mhard-float -mint64
-mips1 -mips2 -mips3 -mips4 -mlong64 -mlong32
-mlong-calls -mmemcpy -mmips-as -mmips-tfile -mno-
abicalls -mno-embedded-data -mno-uninit-const-in-
rodata -mno-embedded-pic -mno-gpopt -mno-long-calls
-mno-memcpy -mno-mips-tfile -mno-rnames -mno-stats
-mrnames -msoft-float -m4650 -msingle-float -mmad
-mstats -EL -EB -G num -nocpp -mabi=32 -mabi=n32
-mabi=64 -mabi=eabi -mfix7000 -mno-crt0 -mflush-
func=func -mno-flush-func -mbranch-likely -mno-
branch-likely

Just tried your CFLAG tip and i got the same erros :/

I am confused as to why the people over at kernel.org would provide you with a default mips64 configuration if the configuration doesn't compile correctly.

Note: if this helps anyone with a response, i am not compiling this on a mips64 processor. I am compiling FOR a mips64 ON a regular duron processor.

Just an update. I read on a mailing list I have to build a cross-compiler tool chain if I want to successfully compile a working kernel for mips architecture. Man, this is going to be a royal pain in the behind. But I have no choice. I'm missing two IRIX 6.5 cds and now I must pay with the eternal struggle to compile a mips kernel. This is definitely going in member success stories if I ever get this working.

You may find http://www.linux-mips.org/ useful for MIPS toolchain, i386 cross compiler construction etc.