 |  |  | 4.3 Linux Kernel Configuration Topic |
4.3 Linux Kernel Configuration Topic
The purpose of this section is to create and
install a custom Linux Kernel.
Preparation for this section requires you to obtain an overview of
the steps needed to compile and install a Linux, kernel. The kernel is
the resident part of the operating system that is loaded at boot time.
Kernels that are used included with distributions are intended to work
on as many hardware platforms as possible. This means it may include
hardware drivers that are never used. With low-cost memory, this may not
be much of an issue. The real issue is the lack of support for a
needed feature or drivers that are interfering with one
another. The more you know about your hardware, the better off you will
be.
- Read chapter 5 of Running Linux by Welsh, Kaufman, Dalheimer, & Dawson. "Essential System Management".
- Read chapter 7 of Running Linux by Welsh, Kaufman, Dalheimer, & Dawson. "Upgrading Software and the Kernel".
- Review
/usr/src/linux/Documentation/Configure.help
An abbreviated version of this might help. For kernel 2.2.12
this file has 11906 lines, or about 200 pages.
- Locate a copy of the current kernel source.
- Understand LILO. Read the
lilo (LInux
LOader) documentation.
- Understand the
tar command.
- Download the new kernel source to your systems with
ftp.
Please time this operation.
- Keep any old source tree in
/usr/src/
- Make sure that there is no
/usr/src/linux directory.
- un-
tar the kernel source tree.
mv (move) it to the base name of the version.
- Create a symbolic link (
ln -s) to it from
/usr/src/linux
- Create a new
/etc/lilo.conf file and run lilo
Make sure that you have at least 5 different kernel names.
(Suggestions: original distribution, old, new, & current.
The current one should be called /vmlinuz and be first in
the configuration file.
cd to /usr/src/linux.
make config or make menuconfig or make xconfig.
make dep
make zlilo or make bzlilo
Please time this operation.
- Perhaps
make modules & make modules_install
- Reboot your system.
e-mail your group's report (only one copy please) as follows:
- To: ltaber@lt.tucson.az.us
- Subject: CSC225 Topic: 4.3: Kernel Compile
- Attach:
- Output of
dmesg for the new kernel.
- Message text:
- Group membership.
- Name of the kernel source used.
- The
ftp download and kernel compile times
- Suggestions on this topic.
Instructor: ltaber@pima.edu ** My new Home at GeoApps in Tucson ** The Pima College Site
| | | 4.3 Linux Kernel Configuration Topic |