A couple of kernel questions

[Guest jsmith1506]

I am trying to compile a kernel for the 1st time. I have read the man and howto to do this. The problem is that the docs always refer to the /usr/src/linux dir. I don't have this dir. Where does Mandrake place these files when doing an install? I want to back up my current config and can't seem to find the file. Where is the .config file? I have noticed that using the MCC for finding RPMs there is an update for the kernel. If I install this RPM does that recompile the kernel? Is there some Mandrake spedific docs for doing this. I have tried google searches and searched through the forums here and can't find what I am looking for. Can someone point me to what I am looking for. ':?'

 

Thank You

[bvc]

Welcome!

You need the kernel-source rpm installed. To see if it is from a terminal;

rpm -q kernel-source

 

To install from a terminal, as root do;

urpmi kernel-source

 

After you have it installed, the command;

file /usr/src/linux

will show that it's a symlinux to /usr/src/kernel-source-<version>

 

The .config is in /usr/src/linux and you can bkup with

cp /usr/src/linux/.config ~/

or whereever....~/ will be /root so would be the same as

cp /usr/src/linux/.config /root

 

You'll also find a /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/defconfig that you can fallback on if you lose or get confused of which .config is the original (which I've done), or something. It's the default config (defconfig). Then you can;

cp /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/defconfig /usr/src/linux/.config

 

Updating the kernel does just that....installs a new kernel while leaving the old so you can boot to either in case pf probs with the new. When all is stable you can remove the old, if you want to.

 

FAQ

http://www.mandrakeusers.org/viewtopic.php?t=4459

[Guest jsmith1506]

':D' That was exactly what I needed. Thank you for the help.