kernel & module building as root

linuxhippy · 06-30-2006, 06:44 PM

I run a server out of my basement on my old 200 MHz tower using Slack 10.2. I want to update the kernel from 2.6.13 to 2.6.17.3 (the current 2.6 kernel) and am doing so now as root. This is going to take hours to build the bzImage and then more time to build all the modules. My server is also running.

Should I build the kernel as root? If not, could I build the modules as a user since the kernel is being built by root?

cwwilson721 · 06-30-2006, 07:03 PM

Actually, you can do both at the same time. Just use the command 'make' instead of 'make bzImage' and 'make modules'. You should do both as user (may have to do as 'su' depending on folder permissions). 'make modules_install' I always do as su

linuxhippy · 06-30-2006, 07:08 PM

I moved the kernel tarball to /usr/src, untarred and made a sylink called linux there. I take it a user cannot right to /usr/src, so I need to move the tarball to my user directory untar, make mrproper, make menuconfig, and make as user. Then copy the new kernel directory to /usr/src and do a make modules_install as root. Is this right?

cwwilson721 · 06-30-2006, 07:16 PM

I would just 'su'

But read this excellent post on making the kernel

linuxhippy · 06-30-2006, 07:28 PM

looks like kernel building, module building, and module installation is all done as root there. So building a kernel & modules as root is ok?

katayamma · 07-01-2006, 09:36 PM

Yes. I build the kernel and modules as root.

Remember, you've got multiple virtual consoles. Just hit alt-F2 (or some other console), login, su up and then build/install your kernel. That way you can go about your business as a non root user on a different window.

Cheers.

linuxhippy · 07-01-2006, 09:39 PM

I need to Google this and read about the kernel based filtering of kernels > 2.6.15. What's it called?

For now I'll update to kernel 2.4.32 on my server and continue to use iptables.

katayamma · 07-01-2006, 09:52 PM

Kernel based filtering of kernels? Huh? o.0

You talking about the Network Packet Filtering in the 2.6 Kernel?

linuxhippy · 07-02-2006, 07:46 AM

posted in the wrong forum...I'm also posting here:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...18#post2316918

egag · 07-02-2006, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxhippy

I moved the kernel tarball to /usr/src, untarred and made a sylink called linux there. I take it a user cannot right to /usr/src, so I need to move the tarball to my user directory untar, make mrproper, make menuconfig, and make as user. Then copy the new kernel directory to /usr/src and do a make modules_install as root. Is this right?

the safest way is to do all that in your home-directory,
so you don't have to be root.
you can create a dir. called "kernels" ( or whatever you like ) there.
then you'll only need to be root to do the install step.

there's no reason to move stuff to /usr/src.
read all about it in the README file that comes in the kernelsources' topdir.
( that was written by Linus himself )

egag

linuxhippy · 07-04-2006, 09:07 AM

I thought I read that somewhere-thanks egag! I built the kernel and modules in my user's home directory. I didn't want these to be useable by a user, so I moved the new kernel directory to /usr/src and did make modules_install as root-worked good.