[ale] kernel upgrade newbie

[Geoffrey]

Cade Thacker wrote:
> Hi all,
> I am feeling rather brave tonight and I am going to try and upgrade my
> kernel. I am currently running RH7.2 2.4.7-10 and would like to upgrade to
> 2.4.16+.
> 
> As stated in the subject, I have never upgrade a kernel so I have dug
> around but I have not found exactly what I am looking for. RH has an RPM
> for 2.4.18 but they say it is for 7.3. Can I use that? Can I just go and
> download the kernel from kernel.org or should I use the rpm?

I've done many a kernel upgrade, I always pull the source down and 
compile it.  It may take you hours the first time, 'cause there's a 
bunch of options.  You'll be the better for it as you'll learn a lot 
more about the various kernel settings as well as what is supported.

I've done this on SuSE, Slackware, Mandrake and Red Hat.  I've also 
compiled my kernel for my firewall machines on my main machine and moved 
it over, that way you don't need a compiler and all that space on those 
machines.  Plus it compiles a lot faster on a PIII 650 then a P75. :)

> 
> ANY direction is helpful. I am definitly in water over my head(but still
> having a blast!)

A couple of recommendations.  Keep your existing kernel so you can go 
back to it if you have problems with the new one booting.  It's also be 
a good idea to have your boot floppy handy you created during the 
install.  You do have it don't you? :)

Use lilo or another boot loader so you can select from multiple kernels 
for testing purposes.  I just recently trimmed mine back, it had 7 
different kernels to boot from. :)

I've fallen in love with make xconfig.  It's a very slick menu driven 
gui for building your kernel.  You'll need X running to use it but it's 
really nice.

make menuconfig is the next best solution if you don't want to compile 
from X.  If you've got an old kernel config from a previous compile, use 
make oldconfig.

Have fun and keep us informed. :)

We really need to have that install fest folks.

-- 
Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric at 3times25.net

I didn't have to buy my radio from a specific company to listen
to FM, why doesn't that apply to the Internet (anymore...)?


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