Re: new beta?

[Audioslave - 7M3 - Live <creed7m3live columbus rr com>]

Benjamin Vander Jagt wrote:
> I still don't understand the version numbering scheme for the Linux
> Kernel.  are 2.x kernels unstable if x is an odd number?  I'm just
> wondering why 2.2 and 2.4 went up to the 20's, and 2.5 is up to 70 and
> have not been seen anywhere...  if it is numbered like that, why not
> just have all released ending with 0 (e.g., 2.2.0) be stable and
> everything in between be unstable?

THe kernel. Really the only true part of Linux has always used the odd 
numbers for the developmental phases of the kernel. The numbers after 
the 2.5.x indicate the times that the kernel has been reviewed and 
changes accepted into the kernel. 70 is a rather high number for the 
versioning. But it sounds like it is undergiong a lot of complicated 
development.

> I'm also really confused about the 2.5 kernel itself.  what do I need to
> do to get the thing to boot without locking up?  it doesn't panic, it
> just lists the first few lines of info and stops...on several of my
> systems.

I got every package that was kernel related from rawhide. Including a 
program called netdump, which scared the heck out of me. I can compile a 
working kernel by running make defconfig, then make xconfig. I choose my 
processor type, add my sound card and ethernet as part of the kernel vs. 
using a module for an always active device. Then I ran make bzImage 
followed by make modules and make modules_install.

I manually edit the boot loader information. I use real device names and 
don't use labels. I also don't use an initrd image file.

> I read the instructions on getting the 2.5 kernel to work, but I can't
> figure it out.  it looks like just about the same process as for the
> 2.4, and all the 2.4 kernels I compile work fine.  is there something
> special about getting the 2.5 to work, like some option I have to select
> in menuconfig?  it won't work as preconfigured nor with any of the
> changes I made...

There is a readme.txt file that someone sent the link to earlier. It 
tells you the options that you should change, in order to get the kernel 
to function.

I believe that modutils from rawhide and the needed dependent programs, 
need to be updated.

I have the 2.5.68 running on my desktop. The laptop is a different 
story. I have to upgrade ther modutils and their dependent programs. The 
kernel panicked and did not boot. It didn't tear up the filesystem 
though. I believe that it tailed the reasons for the panic.

> I saw a 2.5.44 kernel RPM, and I installed it and my system never booted
> again.  *sob*  actually, all I had to do was make the boot partition
> again and shove the 2.4.18 back in...

Where did you come across the RPM for the 2.5.44 kernel? I might be 
interested in trying to see how that many revs back, it worked.

I'm running an nptl kernel, from rawhide, on my laptop now. It seems 
that grip works twice as fast as it did with the phoebe stock kernels. 
Whatever features that were added to the rawhide kernel have seemed to 
increase machine speed, twofold.

good luck,

Jim

PS - I'm not really into compiling programs much. I have compiled a lot 
of different kernels. The 2.5 series is one of the most difficult 
versions to compile. I hope Linus does put out a 2.6 pre-release version 
soon. It would be great if it was out for the next beta cycle, as 
someone mentioned earlier.

--
Never let your schooling interfere with your education.