RE: Kernel Panic~: Rebuild Kernel: miniHOWTO draft .003
Russell, et al,
Third draft. A couple of questions asked below still remain:
<!--\*#---------REBUILD KERNEL------------#*\--!>
References:
read (NOTE: we need a source for these as they are not created on a new
install or by unpacking the kernel-source...and should they be in
/usr/src/linux/ anyway):
/usr/src/linux/Documentation/initrd.txt
/usr/src/linux/Documentation/modules.txt
/usr/src/linux/README
/usr/src/linux/README.Debian
http://qref.sourceforge.net/Debian/reference/ch-kernel.en.html
This is good for using the make menuconfig method
http://infocom.cqu.edu.au/Units/aut99/85321/Resources/Print_Resources/Textbo
ok/chap13/
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22kernel+headers%22+linus+quote&hl=en&lr=&ie
=UTF-8&start=10&sa=N
http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/faq/#AEN334
http://www.uwsg.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0007.3/0587.html
http://www.linuxorbit.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&re
q=viewarticle&artid=532
This is good for using the make xconfig method
Bear in mind that debian does things a bit differently than other
distros. What is that difference? In essence, in stead of reconfiguring the
kernel and replacing it directly, the reconfigured kernel is made into a
package (.deb) primarily so that the rebuild will remain integrated into the
debian package system so that future updates of the kernel can be made using
dpkg. (I have stated this in these boldly confident terms not being sure
that this is the essence at all...hoping for confirmation or education...mo)
R: The way that kernel headers are handled on a debian system may be
different to other distros, so clarification would be worthwhile just to
avoid confusion.
Someone beside me needs to write this section. I am putting this together as
I am learning it as it seems the only way I have motivation enough to help
with some of the documentation gaps in Debian, but this is not to be
understood as a claim to any kind of expertise! haha.
<---Step-by-Step--->
[ ]A. Before 1: Download and create a recovery floppy from:
http://www.toms.net/rb/
[ ]1.a. Download the latest kernel source package (use a Debian source) to
/usr/src (this is where it will be installed if you use dselect, a package
manager, synaptic or aptitude). Best practices seem to indicate that the
package be built outside of /usr/src so creating a sym-link from /linux to
/usr/src/kernel~ as in step 1.d below seems to be the way to handle this.
This way, you can have multiple source trees in /usr/src and just change the
/usr/src/linux symlink to the new tree.)
[ ]1.b. if no /usr/src/linux dir exists, make it
$ cd /usr/src
$ mkdir linux
[ ]1.c. change directory to /usr/src and unpack the source package -- use
the unpacking tools with your file manager, or:
$ su #enter root password
# cd /usr/src
# tar --bzip2 -xvf kernel-source-2.4.18.tar.bz2 (or latest)
[ ]1.d create a symbolic link to /usr/src/linux
# ln -s /usr/src/kernel-source-2.4.18 /usr/src/linux
[ ]2. Just to be professional: go to "/etc/kernel.pkg.conf" and modify the
file by inserting your "Kernel Source Maintainer Name" and e-mail address.
[ ]3. Make sure
[ ]"expectk" if you want to use the user friendly: make xconfig
[ ]"debhelper"
[ ]"modutils"
[ ]"libncurses5-dev"
[ ]"bin86"
[ ]"libc6-dev"
[ ]"debianutils"
[ ]"make"
[ ]"bzip2" and
[ ]"kernel-package" are installed.
R Notes: don't use gcc 3.x, but something like gcc 2.95.
Which I do not understand. Clarification?
==================================================================
REMOVING THIS STEP: This step breaks make xconfig for people who want to go
that way. The Sourceforge method states: One can avoid rm -rf */pcmcia by
selecting "General setup -->" to "PCMCIA/CardBus support -->" in make
menuconfig and setting the configuration to "< > PCMCIA/CardBus support"
(i.e., uncheck the box). Which I will keep in the NOTES section
[ ]4. Remove PCMCIA support if not needed
$ cd /usr/src/kernel-source-2.4.18 # if this is your kernel source
$ rm -rf */pcmcia
# [OPTIONAL] if one wants to use modules from pcmcia-cs or no
pcmcia (see NOTES below)
====================================================================
[ ]5. (on 2nd and subsequent rebuilds) Copy old configuration file to
/usr/src/kernel-source-2.4.18
$ cd /usr/src/kernel-source-2.4.18
$ cp /boot/config-2.4.18-386 .config # get current config as
default
R: notes (and the Sorceforge docs confirm) that this is not necessary as the
script will pick up the oldconfig)...eliminating this step.
==========================================================================
[ ]6. # cd to /usr/src/linux
$ make menuconfig or make xconfig
and make your selections
To do this you need to have some familiarity with your hardware and what
you are intending to use the system for. This you need to work out yourself.
Once this is figured out, it might be helpful, on the first rebuild, to make
your updates with reference to the original configuration, (called
config-2.4.18bf24 (or your kernel version)) which you should find under
/root using the "M" (module) option where a module was used and building the
feature into the kernel (*) or [y] option where it was built into the
kernel. Use the HELP option for brief explanations. This at least until you
understand which can be safely changed under your setup.
Note: If you're using --initrd, make sure "Compressed ROM file system
support" is built in, or you'll get a kernel panic (need CramFS).
(Side note: I see that answers my question about how to get it in
there...sorry!)
[ ]5.a. [ ]# make-kpkg clean
[ ]# make-kpkg -revision=<!--insert your own personal rebuild
version number here: i.e.: -revision=0001) --initrd kernel_image (see NOTES
below: do not use if you do not use).
Note: If you don't want "--initrd" leave out that option, and make
sure /etc/lilo.conf doesn't have it either for that build. Conversely, if
you do want it, make sure to add an 'initrd=/initrd.img' line to the
image=/vmlinuz stanza of your /etc/lilo.conf and be sure to run # lilo -a
after.
[ ]6. A new kernel.version-0001_i386.deb will be placed in the /usr/src
directory
[ ]7. Install the new kernel using # dpkg -i kernel.~.deb
kernel-image-2.4.18_mydomain.0001_i386.deb
[ ]8. Reboot
<---Notes--->
NOTES: make-kpkg kernel_image actually does make oldconfig and make dep. Do
not use --initrd if initrd is not used. The current Debian initrd boot
script requires a cramfs kernel patch, if you obtain kernel source from
non-Debian archives; see http://bugs.debian.org/149236.
On an SMP machine, set CONCURRENCY_LEVEL according to kernel-pkg.conf(5).
Next mini: how to recover when nothing said here works.
<!--\*#------------------------------#*\--!>
Best Wishes!
Mike Olds www.buddhadust.org
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