You may be able to use the RHEL repositories to update your kernel, or find another repository with an updated kernel RPM. (I'm not sure...I don't run RHEL.) That would be quickest and easiest. One site you may want to try is
www.rpmfind.net.
Failing that, the following steps may help, which closely resemble my first kernel build, and most of the ones after it as well:
1. The kernel source can always be found at
www.kernel.org. You can download any version of the kernel from there. The latest is always at the top. Be sure to get the full source package. It will be around 50 MB.
2. Set aside several hours to read about compiling a new kernel for your distro. Make sure you understand what you are doing BEFORE you do it.
3. Set aside several more hours if it is your first kernel build to configure your kernel.
4. Compile the kernel.
5. Configure GRUB or LILO to use the new kernel.
6. Boot the new kernel and find out that you left out a critical component or driver, and scream in agony at the time you used up.
7. Repeat steps 2 through 6 about five times until you have a kernel that works really well.
8. When your kernel works really well, rejoice and hear heavenly choirs singing.
9. Several months later, repeat steps 1 - 8, adding at the beginning great despair at realizing that you somehow lost your old working kernel config.
Seriously though, read lots and don't be too disappointed if/when it doesn't work out perfectly.
I would still try to find a repository to update the kernel before I compiled one.
Good luck.
