Kernel Patch HOWTOs

Tim Johnson · 02-05-2006, 11:59 AM

I'm getting ready to do a kernel patch.
I need some good documentation to read first.
Pointers to docs and URLS are welcomed.
(using 10.0)
thnx
tim

mdarby · 02-05-2006, 12:14 PM

Just read up on the 'patch' command.

Alien_Hominid · 02-05-2006, 01:19 PM

patch (file you need to patch) (patch file)

Tim Johnson · 02-05-2006, 04:10 PM

Yes, that is in the manual. Examples are good.
Cautions are good too.
Like "don't forget to back up the patched file first".
More cautions anyone?
thanks!

tim

/bin/bash · 02-17-2006, 03:53 AM

Read /usr/src/linux/README

KMcD · 02-17-2006, 04:29 AM

tis easy, say you're using the -ck patchset.

Untar kernel source (for this case linux-2.6.15.tar.bz2) using command:

Code:

bzip2 -dc linux-2.6.15.tar.bz2 | tar xvf -

Then copy the patch (current one is patch-2.6.15-ck4.bz2) to source folder (linux-2.6.15) and use the following command:

Code:

bzip2 -dc patch-2.6.15-ck4.bz2 | patch -p1

and hey presto your kernel is patched.

Tim Johnson · 02-17-2006, 10:38 AM

Thanks folks. Here's a related question.
I have two partition, RH 9.0 and Slack 10.0. Is there any reason why I can't do the patching by mounting the slack partition, cd'ing to (in my case) /slack/hdb3/usr/src/linux and running patch there..
I note that the diff paths in the patches are relative.

This brings up a related question: Can I compile the slack kernel from the RH partition by modifying the
HOSTCC path in Makefile to /slack/hdb3/usr/bin/gcc?

-------
"The only stupid questions are the ones unasked,
but there may be some exceptions to this rule"
cheers
tim

/bin/bash · 02-19-2006, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Is there any reason why I can't do the patching by mounting the slack partition, cd'ing to (in my case) /slack/hdb3/usr/src/linux and running patch there..

That will work, just use the absolute path to the patch. e.g. You could do this:
cd /slack/hdb3/usr/src/linux
bzip2 -dc /usr/src/patch-2.6.15-ck4.bz2 | patch -p1

As for the other question, I have never tried that but I know if you want to change the root partition of a kernel you use rdev:
rdev /slack/hdb3/boot/vmlinuz hdb3 #Tell /slack/hdb3/boot/vmlinuz that it's root partition is hdb3

Tim Johnson · 02-19-2006, 11:21 AM

Thanks. Of course the abs path makes sense.
And the reference to rdev was enlightening to say the least.
Never heard of it before, but it's going to be very valuable.
tim