New-Linux-Kernel

From FiberWiki

How to install a custom linux kernel

Let's start by joining the correct directory

cd /usr/src

Then you will want to download the kernel from kernel.org

wget http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/linux-2.6.27.10.tar.gz

Let's open it now

tar zxvf linux-2.6.27.10.tar.gz

Now we need to create a symlink

ln -s linux-2.6.27.10 linux

Since this might be your first time lets take the easy route by going to the following directory and moving your current config file to your new kernel directory

cd /boot

Let's look at the contents

ls

Now the current config should look something like this

config-2.6.18-x

Let's move it to the new kernel location and rename it to .conf (Don't forget to change the "x" to the correct name)

cp config-2.6.18-x /usr/src/linux/.config

Now we need to move back to our new kernel directory

cd /usr/src/linux

If you want to customize your kernel or add in new features like ntfs support.

make menuconfig

Once done adding in features or renaming it we need to compile it (This can take a while...)

make bzImage; make modules; make modules_install; make install

Now it should be added to /boot/grub/menu.lst you can check by doing the following

cat /boot/grub/menu.1st

It should look something like this

# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE:  You have a /boot partition.  This means that
#          all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
#          root (hd0,0)
#          kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00
#          initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/sda
default=1
timeout=5
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title CentOS (2.6.27.10)
       root (hd0,0)
       kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27.10 ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00
       initrd /initrd-2.6.27.10.img
title CentOS (2.6.18-92.el5)
       root (hd0,0)
       kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.18-92.el5 ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00
       initrd /initrd-2.6.18-92.el5.img

Please note that the locations of the kernel and initrd might not be the same as ours. This is just giving you and idea of how the kernel will be added above the current one.

Now you will want to change it to look like this one. ( We change the default=1 to default=0 which is the new kernel)

# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE:  You have a /boot partition.  This means that
#          all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
#          root (hd0,0)
#          kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00
#          initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/sda
default=0
timeout=5
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title CentOS (2.6.27.10)
       root (hd0,0)
       kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.27.10 ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00
       initrd /initrd-2.6.27.10.img
title CentOS (2.6.18-92.el5)
       root (hd0,0)
       kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.18-92.el5 ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00
       initrd /initrd-2.6.18-92.el5.img

Now reboot the machine and it should come up with the new kernel!