Mark Healey wrote:
On Wed, 05 Nov 2003 23:45:18 -0600, Kent West wrote:
Anyway I believe I should get kernel version 2.4.22. That's the latest stable one, right? Is there a .deb package (and where is it) or should I just get the .tar.bz2 one from kernel.org?
Ah, sorry. In that case, go get the .deb from here: http://packages.debian.org/unstable/base/kernel-image-2.4-k7.html (Of course you'll want to get the right "flavor" of kernel for your CPU; this one's for AMD Athlons and similar. Start here: http://www.debian.org/distrib/packages, and search for "kernel-image-2.4".)
Exactly what is a kernel-image?
A kernel-image is a pre-compiled kernel; it's the base, the core, of Debian GNU/Linux (and other Linux-based operating systems).
This is in contrast to a kernel source tarball (a .tar.bz2, as you mention above), which must be configured and compiled. The source is what the programmers write. Then they (or you) compile it into a binary image.
Installing a kernel-image is usually much easier than "rolling your own". Of course, compiling your own kernel has its advantages, such as being customized to your hardware rather than being more generic, etc.
-- Kent