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RE: Kernel Panic~: Rebuild Kernel: miniHOWTO draft .002

Still a draft: Note: need sources for the Linux Documentation listed.
Clarification needed: one source (sourceforge) does not mention a
/usr/src/linux directory in it's method, the other source (linuxorbit)
suggests using a /usr/src/linux directory and creating a symbolic link from
/usr/src/kernel-source... to /usr/src/linux is this important, which is
correct, are these two separate techniques, can one blend the techniques as
I suggest here?

<!--\*#---------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

Keep 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)

<---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)
[ ]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.

[ ]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

[ ]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.

[ ]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).

[ ]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.

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).

On an SMP machine, set CONCURRENCY_LEVEL according to kernel-pkg.conf(5).

Next mini: how to recover when nothing said here works.


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