Re: upgrade debian kernal

[Kent West <westk@acu.edu>]

S.D.A. wrote:

> On Wed, Apr 14, 2004 at 07:21:11PM -0500 or thereabouts, Kent West wrote:
>  
>
> > Chris Lowe wrote:
> >
> >    
> >
> > > I am running debian base 3.0r0 and I need to upgrade to kernel 2.6.3. 
> > > I would like to use menuconfig to build the kernel.  I am new to 
> > > debian and have never compiled my own kernel before. What tools will I 
> > > need to install/update before I can build the kernel?
> > >
> > >      
> > If you're just wanting to upgrade to kernel 2.6.3, there's no need to 
> > recompile (assuming you're running sid at least, and maybe earlier 
> > versions). Just
> >   apt-get install kernel-image-2.6.3-686
> > (assuming a Pentium Pro or newer). You can see other available kernel 
> > versions with
> >   apt-cache search kernel-image
> >    
>
> Hi Kent:
>
> Not the OP, but I'd like to jump in, to clarify something for myself. :)
>
> It seems to me, that there is more to installing a binary kernel image, if one
> is going from the 2.2.x kernel in Woody, to a newer one.
>
> Could someone detail the steps, say going from 2.2.x to  2.4.x. I mean, doesn't
> one have to run lilo, make sure mod tools are installed, etc.?
>
> I always get confused on the add such n such a stanza, to one's lilo. It doesn't
> really say what line to put it on, etc. So speaking for myself, (but I'm sure
> others would be interested to) it would be nice for someone to list the steps in
> detail. Apologies if this has been done before, but if it has, I surely can't
> find it.
>
> Thanks.
>
>  
I've never had to do anything extra _except_ add the initrd line to 
lilo.conf.

When you "apt-get install kernel-image-2.4-blahblah", it should warn you 
about this; at this point, if I haven't already done so on a previous 
kernel upgrade, I let that sit and hope over to a different VT or 
terminal window, and edit /etc/lilo.conf, like so:

> image=/vmlinuz
>         label=Linux
>         read-only
>         initrd=/initrd.img
>         append="hdc=ide-scsi"
> #       restricted
> #       alias=1

Notice the single line that says "initrd=/initrd.img"; this is the only 
line I have to add, and I don't believe it matters where in the "stanza" 
it goes. Then I save the file and hop back to my kernel installation and 
tell it to continue. As part of the installation, it runs lilo so I 
don't have to. Note also that this line is only needed with kernels that 
were built to use an _init_ial _r_am _d_isk, which most official Debian 
kernels are, I believe.

--
Kent