Re: Questions about custom kernels
"lameth" == lameth <lameth@comcast.net> writes:
lameth> Okay I'm seriously considering rolling my own kernel, but
lameth> I have a few questions first. I've downloaded
lameth> kernel-source-2.4.16, binutils, bzip2, fileutils, make,
lameth> and fdutils, is there anything else I need to create a
lameth> custom kernel.
>From the output of dpkg -p kernel-source-2.4.16
Depends: binutils, bzip2, fileutils (>= 4.0)
Recommends: libc-dev, gcc, make
Suggests: libncurses-dev | ncurses-dev, kernel-package
so you seem okay except for kernel-package. Get it!
Also, why 2.4.16? 2.4.18 is in woody, and it is rock steady (for me
anyway).
lameth> During the initial installation of Debian the probing of
lameth> my sound card failed because I didn't know what arguments
lameth> to enter. While compiling my custom kernel will I see
lameth> prompts similar to what I saw during the initial
lameth> installation. Namely will I get a second chance to enter
lameth> the correct values for my soundblaster live value card. I
lameth> checked under windows and and the settings for the SB card
lameth> were as follows; SB Port 220, MPU Port 330, ABLib Port
lameth> 388, IRQ 7, 8-bit DMA 1, 16-bit DMA 7. What would be the
lameth> correct format for any arguments for sound card probing.
Yes, you will get a chance to enter all this. I don't suggest doing
it. Use a module, and pass parameters on loading it. It migth save you
some heartache recompiling.
>From /usr/doc/kernel-doc-2.4.18/Documentation/sound/soundblaster.gz (I
run 2.4.18, but 2.4.16 has got to be similar, the SB driver *probably*
has not changed that much since then, I don't use a SB card
anymore...)
io I/O address of the Sound Blaster chip (0x220,0x240,0x260,0x280)
irq IRQ of the Sound Blaster chip (5,7,9,10)
dma 8-bit DMA channel for the Sound Blaster (0,1,3)
dma16 16-bit DMA channel for SB16 and equivalent cards (5,6,7)
mpu_io I/O for MPU chip if present (0x300,0x330)
You should be able to 'modprobe sb io=...' with a default kernel to
get your sound card running. Then add that the parameters to modprobe
to /etc/modules to get sound started on boot.
Also, be sure to choose CONFIG_FILTER and CONFIG_PACKET in your new
kernel configuration. Otherwise DHCP will probably stop working.
lameth> Since I'm booting from a floppy is there anyway I can keep
lameth> my current working bf2.4 based kernel until I'm sure any
lameth> new kernel is working properly? Or can I have my original
lameth> boot floppy and a new floppy with the new kernel?
Yes. Just use the two floppies. Your custom kernel might throw a
couple of error messages about modules not existing since the bf2.4
kernel will have configured some module loads for itself. Should be no
problem to ignore them.
Read /usr/doc/kernel-package/README.gz for how to build and install a
new kernel for Debian systems. By default your old kernel will be
backed up as linux.OLD in lilo.conf unless you mucked around in there
a lot (though I suspect you don't use lilo at all?).
lameth> TIA Lameth
Good luck. Building kernels is easy, but it takes some preparation
(basically, RTFM as much as you can). But to be honest you should be
able to use a stock Debian kernel to solve the problems you mention
above. Since moving to Debian (woody) I have not needed to build my
own Kernel except to work around hardware issues. The non-bf2.4 2.4.x
kernels in woody are really very, very slick.
Cheers!
Shyamal
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