Question: Kernel build i386 vs i686
 

I am running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 AS. I'm trying to update my kernel based upon the new release publised by Red Hat. My hardware is dual Pentium II 333 mhz mounted on and Intel motherboard. Everything works just fine.

First I could not get the kernel to build from Red Hat source rpms by just doing a simple rebuild. As follows:

rpmbuild --rebuild kernel-2.6.9-11.EL.src.rpm
Installing kernel-2.6.9-11.EL.src.rpm
error: Architecture is not included: i386

I get the above error message.

I later tried the rebuild option with the target i386 and got the very same mesage as above. As follows:

rpmbuild --rebuild --target i386 kernel-2.6.9-11.EL.src.rpm
Installing kernel-2.6.9-11.EL.src.rpm
Building target platforms: i386
Building for target i386
error: Architecture is not included: i386

I changed the target platform to i686 and the kernel is building as I create this post.

My question is what's the difference between i386 and i686 for the Kernel build? I did not have to specify a target for other source rpms that I built from Red Hat.

Does anyone know why Red Hat did not include i386 as a build platform in the source RPM?

Shoud I be concerned about applying the i686 rpms to my systems? If so what are the issues?

Thanks

why would you WANT to build an enterprise kernel base don a i386 function set? it's one thing for RPM makers to dish out a "one size fits all" i386 rpm for everone on intel compatible cpus, but compiling it yourself for an enterprise level machine makes no sense to me.

I'm not sure I understand you repsone? Can you please be more clear? I'm learning Linux and I decided to use Red Hat, since what Companies used in my area.

What do you suggest for building the kernel?

Thanks

this is from the kernel compilation window
***************
386 (M386)

This is the processor type of your CPU. This information is used for
optimizing purposes. In order to compile a kernel that can run on
all x86 CPU types (albeit not optimally fast), you can specify
"386" here.

The kernel will not necessarily run on earlier architectures than
the one you have chosen, e.g. a Pentium optimized kernel will run on
a PPro, but not necessarily on a i486.

Here are the settings recommended for greatest speed:
- "386" for the AMD/Cyrix/Intel 386DX/DXL/SL/SLC/SX, Cyrix/TI
486DLC/DLC2, UMC 486SX-S and NexGen Nx586. Only "386" kernels
will run on a 386 class machine.
- "486" for the AMD/Cyrix/IBM/Intel 486DX/DX2/DX4 or
SL/SLC/SLC2/SLC3/SX/SX2 and UMC U5D or U5S.
- "586" for generic Pentium CPUs lacking the TSC
(time stamp counter) register.
- "Pentium-Classic" for the Intel Pentium.
- "Pentium-MMX" for the Intel Pentium MMX.
- "Pentium-Pro" for the Intel Pentium Pro.
- "Pentium-II" for the Intel Pentium II or pre-Coppermine Celeron.
- "Pentium-III" for the Intel Pentium III or Coppermine Celeron.
- "Pentium-4" for the Intel Pentium 4 or P4-based Celeron.
- "K6" for the AMD K6, K6-II and K6-III (aka K6-3D).
- "Athlon" for the AMD K7 family (Athlon/Duron/Thunderbird).
- "Crusoe" for the Transmeta Crusoe series.
- "Efficeon" for the Transmeta Efficeon series.
- "Winchip-C6" for original IDT Winchip.
- "Winchip-2" for IDT Winchip 2.
- "Winchip-2A" for IDT Winchips with 3dNow! capabilities.
- "CyrixIII/VIA C3" for VIA Cyrix III or VIA C3.
- "VIA C3-2 for VIA C3-2 "Nehemiah" (model 9 and above).

If you don't know what to do, choose "386

*******************
since i have a P3 CPU so i compile a kernel optimized for a P3 processor

regards

i really find it odd that so few people seem to know what a 386 is... but then pentiums have been around for what... 12 years now? guess it's understandable really. But then I am too young to have actually known about 386's when they were around, i just backfilled it all.

Thanks! That just helped me too.
 

Thanks to all for posting the question and the replies. Finding this thread just saved me a lot of frustration. You all rock!