Kernel compiling guide for newbies...

timezero · 04-14-2003, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aaron_n
make mproper is like an aggressive make clean
make config is make menuconfig but text based.

On Another Note:
If, like me, you can't be arsed to deal with modules. Just compile them directly into the kernel (e.g '*' and not 'M' in make menuconfigs selection boxes).
You loose the advantages of dynamically loading and unloading modules/drivers. But I have no need to do that :-)
And to get detailed information on an option in make menuconfig just press "SHIFT + ?" when the option is selected.

Aaron

Thanks for the reply!

Is it possible to compile the kernel with slackwares standard module configuration but perhaps adding 2 or 3 modules, without having to answer yes or no for every module?

I am also curios why my kernel guide doesn't include "make" after make bzimage?

Aussie · 04-14-2003, 03:30 PM

Make bzImage is the command to make a compressed kernel image.

timezero · 04-15-2003, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aussie
Make bzImage is the command to make a compressed kernel image.

Thanks, but,

I meant

make bzimage
make <-- this make

Aussie · 04-15-2003, 08:53 AM

Because you have already issued the 'make' command, with the bzImage added on to specify a bz2 compressed kernel image, there are a few other options you can use instead of bzImage, see the kernel HOWTO for all the details.

hecresper · 04-15-2003, 05:44 PM

Is there an online guide/howto that will go into a detailed explanation of ALL the options available during menuconfig?

I'm asking this because, while I can just follow the simple steps mentioned here and other places, there is a whole bunch of other options in there. I'm very curious about what everything means in there. I've followed plenty of basic step-by-step, but I always feel like: huh? what did I just do? Huh! It feels like I'm in drone mode. Monkey see, monkey do!

LOL

Thanks.

PapaNoHair · 04-16-2003, 08:11 AM

Thanks! Took some time to go thru all those steps. Appreciate your help!

Aussie · 04-16-2003, 08:39 AM

hecresper,

The best thing to do is look at the .config that came with the default kernel you installed, mine is /boot/config-ide-2.4.20, copy it to /usr/src/linux/.config{*} and that will be what you see when you do make menuconfig, have a look at the <help> pages as you go through it, as a rule of thumb you can turn off any hardware that you don't have, like only building the module for the soundcard that you have in your computer for example. When it comes to things like file systems then the same rule applies, if your not going to network or dual boot on a mac then you won't need mac filesystem support, you'll be able to find information on specific options by searching for each on google/linux (this should be your number one bookmark ;-)

{*} Note the period (.) in .config.

zahid@allbd.com · 04-21-2003, 06:49 AM

If I have a dual-processor system, utilize both processors. If I have more than two processors?

bluehz · 04-21-2003, 12:04 PM

This is great thread! I just built my first kernel after using Linux for over a year - started as a complete newbie! I was holding off on doing the kernel rebuild - just because it seemed it was abit dangerous - thx to this thread I found out its not so bad after all!

So I rebuild my kernel according to directions here - but I skipped the last install step - instead preferring to manually install System.map, config, and vmlinuz. I am having problems with teh modules though - I build a few modules, and I did do a "make modules install" and that completed fine - but it appears my modules are not being loaded. What do I need to do to get the new modules loaded? Do I need to manually edit my rc.modules to load the modules?

DaOne · 04-21-2003, 05:16 PM

Quote:

and I did do a "make modules install" and that completed fine

Is this what you did...or did you mean make modules_install? To install the modules, the _ must be present. If you left this out, that could be your problem in a nutshell.

Quote:

Do I need to manually edit my rc.modules to load the modules?

This may be necessary for some modules. The only modules I need to edit rc.modules for are agpgart, and fglrx (for my Radeon 9700)...the rest load for me.

zahid@allbd.com · 04-21-2003, 11:08 PM

I guess I got the answer:
/usr/src/linux/.config(dot config file. Note the dot before config)
# Processor type and features
#
# CONFIG_M386=y is not set
# CONFIG_M486 is not set
CONFIG_M586=y ####???Note the line (processor type)
# CONFIG_M586TSC is not set
#CONFIG_M686
CONFIG_MICROCODE=m
CONFIG_X86_MSR=m
CONFIG_X86_CPUID=m
CONFIG_1GB=y
# CONFIG_2GB is not set
CONFIG_MATH_EMULATION=y
CONFIG_MTRR=y
CONFIG_SMP=y ####???Note the line (allow multiprocessing)

bluehz · 04-22-2003, 07:21 AM

Yes I did use module_install - that was atypo on my part. I have trie dit four times and each time the compilation completes just fine, but when I reboot - I get no modules loading.

I really just want to create a custom kernel for my server which runs on an old 100MHz PC - very minimal. Any suggestions?

Aussie · 04-22-2003, 07:51 AM

Did you select (M) or (Y) for the modules?

Tinkster · 04-22-2003, 06:04 PM

Don't you sometimes wish people would start a
new thread with their own problem/question rather
than appending to an existing one? ;)

Cheers,
Tink

DaOne · 04-22-2003, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Don't you sometimes wish people would start a new thread with their own problem/question rather
than appending to an existing one?

But then...I guess the realization would be that most of these problems would end up being refered to this thread anyway. But hey...as long as they're getting the help they need, I guess I can't complain