compiling kernel backports for woody

[Ragnar <ragnar@magtar.org>]

Hi,

I am currently using a backported version (2.4.26) for woody.
When the i386 SMP page fault handler privilege escalation was discovered I 
wanted to install the patched 2.4.27-1 kernel from sid, only to find out 
that it did not boot after compiling.
What I normally do is download the kernel source from testing or unstable, 
get the source from the kernel-image and use the 686 (or 686-smp) as the 
.config. with the make-kpkg --initrd kernel_image command I then create 
the .deb kernel package. This always for previous kernels..

the problem is caused by initrd (or the cramfs patch) apparently, since 
the kernel will not boot and hangs with a kernel panic, but does work if I 
compile fs and ide support hard into the kernel and don't use the --initrd 
option. 
I have searched the web for information on the cramfs patch that is 
supposed to be applied to pristine kernel sources but have found very little 
information on the subject.

My questions are: 

- is there a standard and "foolproof" way to create a backported 
2.4.<current> initrd kernel for woody production machines? 

- what is the reason the initrd image from 2.4.27-1 (compiled on a stable 
system to match the initrd version) panics on the same stable machine? 

- Where can I find documentation on the cramfs patch and why does Debian 
choose to use cramfs by default and not romfs (which also works) or 
something that does not require patching the kernel ?


Thanks in advance,
 
Ragnar
--
"We come in this world alone. We depart alone.
This also is an illusion. I will teach you the way
Not to come, not to go"

Aenea
	The rise of Endymion