Bug#784206: [installation-guide] Re: "Compiling a New Kernel" section is hugely outdated
Hi,
Ben Hutchings <ben@decadent.org.uk> wrote:
> Package: installation-manual
> Severity: important
>
> There are many things wrong with the current text for "Compiling
> a New Kernel".
>
> - "It is often not necessary since the default kernel shipped with
> Debian handles most configurations." This is a great under-
> statement: almost all configurations are covered.
>
> - "Also, Debian often offers several alternative kernels." Actually
> there is less and less need for alternative kernels...
>
> - It recommends using kernel-package, but the upstream "make deb-pkg"
> recipe is usually a better choice
>
> - The linux-source-2.6 metapackage was transitional in wheezy and
> _does_not_exist_ in jessie.
>
> - The list of build-dependencies is missing many packages.
>
> I propose to remove almost the entire text and refer to the
> Debian Kernel Handbook (online and packaged).
I would like to change it this way, if noone objects:
diff --git a/en/post-install/kernel-baking.xml b/en/post-install/kernel-baking.xml
index 5146cf3c1..9371952ae 100644
--- a/en/post-install/kernel-baking.xml
+++ b/en/post-install/kernel-baking.xml
@@ -4,170 +4,16 @@
<sect1 arch="linux-any" id="kernel-baking"><title>Compiling a New Kernel</title>
<para>
-Why would someone want to compile a new kernel? It is often not
-necessary since the default kernel shipped with &debian; handles most
-configurations. Also, &debian; often offers several alternative kernels.
-So you may want to check first if there is an alternative kernel image
-package that better corresponds to your hardware. However, it can be
-useful to compile a new kernel in order to:
-
-<itemizedlist>
-<listitem><para>
-
-handle special hardware needs, or hardware conflicts with the
-pre-supplied kernels
-
-</para></listitem>
-<listitem><para>
-
-use options of the kernel which are not supported in the pre-supplied
-kernels (such as high memory support)
-
-</para></listitem>
-<listitem><para>
-
-optimize the kernel by removing useless drivers to speed up boot time
-
-</para></listitem>
-<listitem><para>
-
-create a monolithic instead of a modularized kernel
-
-</para></listitem>
-<listitem><para>
-
-run an updated or development kernel
-
-</para></listitem>
-<listitem><para>
-
-learn more about linux kernels
-
-</para></listitem>
-</itemizedlist>
-
-</para>
-
- <sect2><title>Kernel Image Management</title>
-<para>
-
-Don't be afraid to try compiling the kernel. It's fun and profitable.
-
-</para><para>
-
-To compile a kernel the &debian; way, you need some packages:
-<classname>fakeroot</classname>, <classname>kernel-package</classname>,
-<classname>linux-source-2.6</classname>
-and a few others which are probably already installed (see
-<filename>/usr/share/doc/kernel-package/README.gz</filename> for the
-complete list).
-
-</para><para>
-
-This method will make a .deb of your kernel source, and, if you have
-non-standard modules, make a synchronized dependent .deb of those
-too. It's a better way to manage kernel images;
-<filename>/boot</filename> will hold the kernel, the System.map, and a
-log of the active config file for the build.
-
-</para><para>
-
-Note that you don't <emphasis>have</emphasis> to compile your kernel
-the <quote>&debian; way</quote>; but we find that using the packaging system
-to manage your kernel is actually safer and easier. In fact, you can get
-your kernel sources right from Linus instead of
-<classname>linux-source-2.6</classname>,
-yet still use the <classname>kernel-package</classname> compilation method.
-
-</para><para>
-
-Note that you'll find complete documentation on using
-<classname>kernel-package</classname> under
-<filename>/usr/share/doc/kernel-package</filename>. This section just
-contains a brief tutorial.
-
-</para><para>
-
-Hereafter, we'll assume you have free rein over your machine and will
-extract your kernel source to somewhere in your home directory<footnote>
-
-<para>
-
-There are other locations where you can extract kernel sources and build
-your custom kernel, but this is easiest as it does not require special
-permissions.
-
-</para>
-
-</footnote>. We'll also assume that your kernel version is
-&kernelversion;. Make sure you are in the directory to where you want to
-unpack the kernel sources, extract them using
-<userinput>tar xf /usr/src/linux-source-&kernelversion;.tar.xz</userinput>
-and change to the directory <filename>linux-source-&kernelversion;</filename>
-that will have been created.
-
-</para><para>
-
-Now, you can configure your kernel. Run <userinput>make
-xconfig</userinput> if X11 is installed, configured and being run; run
-<userinput>make menuconfig</userinput> otherwise (you'll need
-<classname>libncurses5-dev</classname> installed). Take the time to read
-the online help and choose carefully. When in doubt, it is typically
-better to include the device driver (the software which manages
-hardware peripherals, such as Ethernet cards, SCSI controllers, and so
-on) you are unsure about. Be careful: other options, not related to a
-specific hardware, should be left at the default value if you do not
-understand them. Do not forget to select <quote>Kernel module loader</quote>
-in <quote>Loadable module support</quote> (it is not selected by default).
-If not included, your &debian; installation will experience problems.
-
-</para><para>
-
-Clean the source tree and reset the <classname>kernel-package</classname>
-parameters. To do that, do <userinput>make-kpkg clean</userinput>.
-
-</para><para>
-
-Now, compile the kernel:
-<userinput>fakeroot make-kpkg --initrd --revision=1.0.custom kernel_image</userinput>.
-The version number of <quote>1.0</quote> can be changed at will; this is just
-a version number that you will use to track your kernel builds.
-Likewise, you can put any word you like in place of <quote>custom</quote>
-(e.g., a host name). Kernel compilation may take quite a while, depending on
-the power of your machine.
-
-</para><para>
-
-Once the compilation is complete, you can install your custom kernel
-like any package. As root, do
-<userinput>dpkg -i
-../&kernelpackage;-&kernelversion;-<replaceable>subarchitecture</replaceable>_1.0.custom_&architecture;.deb</userinput>.
-The <replaceable>subarchitecture</replaceable> part is an optional
-sub-architecture,
-<phrase arch="i386"> such as <quote>686</quote>, </phrase>
-depending on what kernel options you set.
-<userinput>dpkg -i</userinput> will install the
-kernel, along with some other nice supporting files. For instance,
-the <filename>System.map</filename> will be properly installed
-(helpful for debugging kernel problems), and
-<filename>/boot/config-&kernelversion;</filename> will be installed,
-containing your current configuration set. Your new
-kernel package is also clever enough to automatically update your boot
-loader to use the new kernel. If you have created a modules package,
-you'll need to install that package as well.
-
-</para><para>
-
-It is time to reboot the system: read carefully any warning that the
-above step may have produced, then <userinput>shutdown -r now</userinput>.
+Why would someone want to compile a new kernel? It is most probably not
+necessary since the default kernel shipped with &debian; handles almost all
+configurations.
</para><para>
-For more information on &debian; kernels and kernel compilation, see the
+If you want to compile your own kernel nevertheless, this is of course
+possible and we recommend the use of the <quote>make deb-pkg</quote> target.
+For more information read the
<ulink url="&url-kernel-handbook;">Debian Linux Kernel Handbook</ulink>.
-For more information on <classname>kernel-package</classname>, read
-the fine documentation in <filename>/usr/share/doc/kernel-package</filename>.
</para>
- </sect2>
</sect1>
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