Re Upgrading the Kernel

["Mickel" <quantum1 privacyx com>]

Thank you Richard, books are always a good idea, unfortunately the book I've currently got ( Using Redhat Linux ) doesn't have any information on upgrading the kernel, so I'll check out "Running Linux" and see what it has to offer.

 

Thanks again for your help

 

Graeme :)

----- Original Message -----

From: Richard

To: redhat-install-list redhat com

Sent: Monday, April 23, 2001 3:37 PM

Subject: Re: Upgrading the Kernel

Mickel wrote:
>
> HI all,
>
> I wish to upgrade my kernel but I have no idea how to do this :(  I'd
> appreciate any suggestions, website addresses or anything really.
>
> I have redhat 6.2 and kernel 2.2.14 and wish to get a recent version.
>
> kind regards
>
> Graeme:)
>
> _______________________________________________
> Redhat-install-list mailing list
> Redhat-install-list redhat com
> https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-install-list
I purchased the book "Running Linux" by Welsh, Dalheimer, & Kaufman.
Seems to answer most of my questions and is pretty generic for
distributions.  This might be a good step (there are other books, of
course).  I just like having something I can touch and check off steps
as I go.  I would suggest two precoursers to upgrading:  first, create a
soft link to your current kernel, and second, re-compile your current
kernel.  The first is just a good idea and will eventually allow
multiple boot options, so if your new kernel does not work, you can fall
back on the old one.  Actually, if you are into spending more money, I
understand the new SuSE distribution, 7.1, has a feature to install two
kernels, 2.2.18, and 2.4.x, and select between the two.  This can be
useful.  2.2.18 seems pretty stable now and either supports most
hardware or has patches to enable it.  2.4.x, as I understand it, is
pretty robust, and pretty stable, and has lots of new hardware support
features, but these may not mean much to you.  If you are currently
running 2.2.14, then I will assume you do not use USB, Firewire, or dual
processors, or some new bleeding-edge video card, and therefore 2.4.x
may have little really to offer.  Oh boy, I can hear the howling now
from the ultra-gurus out there.  The second step would be for practice
before using a new kernel, compiling with a kernel you already know will
work for you.  But back to your question:
I assume your current kernel is accessed in /usr/src/linux.  Make a
directory like /usr/src/linux214 and move your current kernel there:  mv
/usr/src/linux /usr/src/linux214
Then make the soft link to this:  cd /usr/src/   then:  ln -sf
/usr/src/linux214 linux
This keeps your old kernel available and when you boot up and LILO looks
to /usr/src/linux for your kernel, directs it to /usr/src/linux214.
This will allow you to do new kernel stuff in a different directory,
re-make the link to it, and if it does not work, simply redo the link
back to the working directory.  Next steps are to download new kernel
sources (from www.kernel.org or other sites, including your distro
site), put them into a new directory, for example, /usr/src/linux218 for
2.2.18 sources, compile, redirect the link to the new directory, reboot,
and pray.  Really, I would get the book.  It explains the steps and is
pretty complete.  Richard



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