Questions on compiling new kernel, nVidia drivers and LILO

Mechanic · 02-05-2006, 05:07 PM

Hi,

I installed Slackware 10.2 on a comp with an AMD 3800 64 bit and Foxxcon mobo with nVidia chips that seem to control everything. Mobo has ethernet that does not work with current kernel (bare.i) and also a TV out connector (S-video) that I would like to use. Downloaded nVidia drivers from nVidia site and tried to install. Fails with

Code:

ERROR: this .run file is intended for the
Linux-x86_64 platform, but you appear to be
running on Linux-x86.  Aborting installation.

So, I figure I have to compile a kernel (which I have never done) specifically for the 64 bit AMD. In preparation for building the kernel I started playing around with seeing if I could boot with some of the other supplied kernels (like the 2.6.?). So my main question concerns LILO. What are the files System.map and config used for? There is no reference to them in lilo.conf. From what I've read about LILO there is a map variable that can be set in lilo.conf (which it isn't in my lilo.conf and so defaults to /boot/map). But this map file is different than the System.map files. In my /boot directory System.map and config are links to kernel-specific files in the same directory. Am I supposed to copy the System.map and config files for the new kernel that I want to use to /boot and set System.map and config pointing to them? If so, what about the versions for the other kernels? Even if I didn't want to compile a new kernel, what is the proper procedure for making several kernels available at the boot prompt? TIA

cwwilson721 · 02-05-2006, 06:39 PM

Here are two guides for compiling the kernel:

www.shilo.is-a-geek.com/slack Excellent guide for setting up Slackware, and tells you about what to do with the System.map and config files you are talking about, plus tells how to have a nulti-kernel setup using lilo
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=127095 This is on compiling the 2.6 kernel

Hope they help

Mechanic · 02-06-2006, 08:07 AM

Thanks for the info. I'm still puzzled though about these mysterious System.map and config files. Neither of the links above says what these file are for and the second link seems to say that you don't do anything with them! Or, perhaps running make install automatically does something with them. Hopefully you can understand why I need to know what these files are for. Not knowing indicates a lack of understanding about the kernel compile/install process on my part. I appreciate any help you can give.

piete · 02-06-2006, 11:01 AM

Hi,

Run a search for other posts by me (piete) and x86_64 to pull up some stuff about the differences between 64-bit and 32-bit systems. The short story is that Slackware is a 32-bit system (even if you have 64-bit hardware) and so you need 32-bit drivers. Choose the x86 nvidia drivers to get your card installed.

config is the raw text kernel config. It's the .config file located in your kernel source tree. It's included because ... it's quite handy to have around =) Modifying a kernel config is much easier than starting from a totally blank slate.

I can't explain System.map ... but this man can: http://www.dirac.org/linux/system.map/ Have a read and feel enlightened =)

- Piete.