Compiling a working kernel (was Re: make bzImage)

[Matthew Haas <wedge@lightlink.com>]

On Fri, 19 Sep 2003, [iso-8859-1] Gregor Stößer wrote:
>
> Just try "make", that's it. There is no bzImage on the alpha platform.
>
> There is a file named vmlinux, just gzip it, rename it, put in the
> right place and point aboot to it. Don't forget to make initrd (if you
> need one).
>

 Ok, I've got an AlphaServer DS10L 617MHz EV67 that I've been trying to
get a 2.4 kernel onto. I've downloaded the Debian sources, and have
managed to fight my way through their kernel compile scripts.

 However, I have yet to successfully get the system to complete a boot
with the new kernel. At first it had problems mounting the root (I believe
I've resolved this), so now the problem is as follows:

 It will mount the root, start some daemons, then get to the line which
says:

 Loading console font: /etc/console/boottime.kmap.gz

 Or something like that... and just sit there after displaying this line.
I never get a prompt, I can't seem to access any of this machine's
resources remotely (ie no SSH).

 So I'm stuck on STDIN, and network access don't allow me into the box.

 I located the boottime kmap, in /etc/console, so I thought I'd be tricky
and rename it to something else. That just resulted in this line not being
displayed at all, and still no proper boot.

 I notice at this point the hard drive LED on the outside of the rackmount
case soon thereafer goes out, and no other disk activity is "seen". I've
let it sit for a good long time seeing if something will timeout, but
after a reasonable amount of time (say, 15-30 minutes) I get no further.

 Any suggestions? I am really baffled by this. I'm running one of the
stock 2.2 Debian kernels, which seems to be the only thing I can make
working on this box.

 Is there some HOWTO available that will show me step-by-step instructions
for the proper debian way of compiling/installing/booting a kernel on the
Alpha? Just to make sure I'm not missing something obvious.

 If need be I can send along my current .config file for scrutiny.

 Thanks.

---
 Matthew Haas
 Corning/Geneseo, NY