compiling default kernel suse 9.3

fireedo · 08-10-2005, 09:53 AM

hi...
I have a big problem when I have done compiling default kernel on suse 9.3.... I cant boot into my suse and my windowsXP.........

this how I compile my kernel :

% su -
Password:
# cd /usr/src/linux

# make mrproper

# make xconfig
then here I config something that I dont need ( asuming I know what I'm doing here)
then I press "save"
then "quit"

# make bzImage V=1

# make modules

# mv /boot/vmlinuz /boot/vmlinuz.old
# cat arch/i386/boot/bzImage > /vmlinuz
# mv /boot/System.map /boot/System.map.old...... (at this step I found a warning....but I forgot )
# cp System.map /boot/System.map
# make modules_install

then I restart and......walaaa.....I cant go to my suse and my windowsXP too.....
if I'm not wrong .....there is a error message say that.... "file......=15"..............press any key to continued.............

but there is nothing I can do.....

so what is wrong with my step for compiling my kernel?

please....I want to study about compiling kernel......but now I have to reimstall my suse

Artanicus · 08-10-2005, 10:36 AM

Quote:

# cat arch/i386/boot/bzImage > /vmlinuz

Wouldnt this place your kernel in /vmlinuz instead of /boot/vmlinuz? Peerhaps just a typo on your account of things, but still a thing worth checking..

You dont have to reinstall. Just use either a suse boot floppy, Knoppix (or similar) or the Suse install disk rescue mode to grt access to your installation and then fix the problem by hand. There are surely instructions here at LQ for that, just use the search (:

fireedo · 08-10-2005, 11:06 AM

I think I need a step by step instruction to follow....because I am a newbie on this thing (kernel compiling)......
so can someone teach me how to compile kernel step by step?
also with grub editing after compiling.... (I think this important)

thanx a lot....

mac57 · 08-10-2005, 11:10 PM

I can't help, but I would like to generalize the question. Building kernels is enough to reduce the average Linux user to a blubbering mess. I have tried it a few times, on a few different distros, always with catastrophic results. I have read enough to know that the procedure can be quite different, distro to distro. At this point, I am beginning to think that kernel building is closely akin to black magic.

So, the generalized question: is there a SuSE specific HOWTO somewhere for building kernels that would apply to SuSE 9.3?

Thanks.

Artanicus · 08-11-2005, 04:32 AM

Building a kernel is absolutely the same process with every distro, not that the distro makers want you to belive that, they want you to do it their way.. (;

In short:

Code:

1. download source, move as /usr/src/linux-version
2. cd in and do:
2.0 make menuconfig|xconfig|whatever is your perversion here
2.1 make dep (only needed for 2.4.x kernels)
2.2 make bzImage
2.3 make modules
2.4 make modules_install
2.5 mv /boot/vmlinuz /boot/vmlinuz.old && cp arch/i386/boot/bzImage /boot/vmlinuz
2.6 mv /boot/System.map /boot/System.map.old && cp System.map /boot/
(ind bothb 2.5 and 2.6 you might get an error about overwriting the file. This is normal if youve upgraded your kernel before, so you should overwrite.)
2.7 make sure you did everything right, and make sure grub / lilo knows which kernel it is booting and how
2.8 reboot (:

biophysics · 08-11-2005, 04:49 AM

I have made a small page for SuSE kernel compiling:
http://www.geocities.com/lucy_koeln/kernel.html

broch · 08-11-2005, 07:12 AM

Assuming that this is your first kernel skip first command:
# make clean && make mrproper
#make xconfig
save
#vi .config
change kernel name. This way your new kernel based on SuSE sources will not overwrite, the ond one that works)
#make bzImage && make modules && make modules_install
#make install

That is all. The last commad "make install" will:
1) copy necessary files to /boot
2) create initrd
3) modify GRUB menu and add entries for your new kernel
4) create new symlinks to initrd and vmlinuz (consequences are obvious)

Basically "make install" will do all what's needed to instal compiled kernel.

If you are using SuSE sources, then bootsplash is not necessary.