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jonasforssell
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Joined: 27 Oct 2002
Posts: 63

PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 1:06 pm    Post subject: Breaking away from Genkernel Reply with quote

Gentlemen,

I want to break away from the Genkernel shackles.
My CD-burning and printing does not work and I think it will be easier to sort this out if I compile the needed stuff into the kernel directly.

How do I know which module corresponds to which option in the kernel?

my current lsmod:

Code:

Module                  Size  Used by
ppp_deflate             4864  1
bsd_comp                5632  0
ppp_async               9728  1
ppp_generic            20500  7 ppp_deflate,bsd_comp,ppp_async
slhc                    6656  1 ppp_generic
ohci_hcd               16644  0
uhci_hcd               28048  0
8139cp                 15616  0
via_agp                 5760  1
agpgart                27432  2 via_agp
snd_pcm_oss            47780  0
snd_mixer_oss          16384  1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_cmipci             30260  0
snd_pcm                79524  2 snd_pcm_oss,snd_cmipci
snd_page_alloc          9092  1 snd_pcm
snd_opl3_lib            8576  1 snd_cmipci
snd_hwdep               7072  1 snd_opl3_lib
gameport                3712  1 snd_cmipci
snd_mpu401_uart         5760  1 snd_cmipci
snd_rawmidi            19232  1 snd_mpu401_uart
snd_seq_oss            29312  0
snd_seq_midi_event      6144  1 snd_seq_oss
snd_seq                47632  4 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_timer              20228  3 snd_pcm,snd_opl3_lib,snd_seq
snd_seq_device          6408  4 snd_opl3_lib,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq
snd                    44388  13 snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_cmipci,snd_pcm,snd_opl3_lib,snd_hwdep,snd_mpu401_uart,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
nvidia               1700908  10
sbp2                   20872  0
ohci1394               29828  0
ieee1394               88756  2 sbp2,ohci1394
usb_storage            25856  0
hid                    30528  0
ehci_hcd               23428  0
usbcore                86236  7 ohci_hcd,uhci_hcd,usb_storage,hid,ehci_hcd


I run kernel 2.6.5

Many thanks
/Jonas Forssell, Sweden
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tomvollerthun
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Joined: 19 Mar 2005
Posts: 316

PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 1:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Code:
make menuconfig

in /usr/src/linux. That will open the user interface where you can configure your kernel.
There you browse through the hierarchy and see where an [M] (means "compiled as module") is.
Whenever you find one, read the corresponding help topic and decide upon that information if this should be compiled directly into the kernel (change until it reads [*] ) or if it can stay like it is.

If you have a question to a specific entry, you can always come and ask.

Regards, tom

P.S.: I don't like genkernel as well ;)
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NeddySeagoon
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Joined: 05 Jul 2003
Posts: 54584
Location: 56N 3W

PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 1:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jonasforssell,

Glad to hear it. 2.6.5 is a very old kernel. Its 2.6.11 now. Get the new one by doing
Code:
emerge sync
emerge gentoo-sources

You probably want to update your nVidia drivers too, so that both your old and new kerenls use the same nvidia versions. That will save no end of problems later. Do
Code:
emerge nvidia-kernel nvidia-glx

Reboot to make sure that works.

Once thats OK you are set to do your new 'roll your own' kernel.
cd to /usr/src/linux and check you have at least your 2.6.5 and new 2.6.11 kerenls and a symbolic link named linix.
Delete then recreate the symlink so it points to your new kernel.

Now cd linux (proves the link) and configure your new kernel. If you dont have X, you need to use
Code:
make menuconfig
. If you have X then
Code:
make xconfig
or
Code:
make gconfig
are GUI tools for doing the same thing. I can't tell you what to select but there are some rules of thumb as you work your way through.

1. If something is needed to boot, it must be built into the kernel, say Y.
2. If an option is not needed at all, say N (Many options hide menus and cut down on the reading)
3. If an option is needed after boot say M for module
4. If you don't understand the help, accept the defualt, they are 'mostly harmless'.
5. Don't expect it to boot first time.
Some examples of the above.
1. your rootfilesystem type, the root filesystem disk drive chipset driver, the high level disk driver for the rootfs.
2. ISDN if you don't have it. ISA if you have no ISA. PCMCIA if you don't have PCMCIA
3. Networking, sound, USB, TV card and anything else that can be added after boot.
Modules makes for much easier debug and fine tuning than built it. They can be compiled and added without a reboot and fine tuned with parameters.

You will want lspci, to see what hardware you have
Code:
emerge pciutils
if you get an error trying to run it.
Armed with the above, its a case of sitting down with a large pot of coffee and working through all the options, reading the help. It will take you a few hours the first time, since you need to read all the help and you are stsrting from a defualt that suits nobody. Next time you will be making changes to your own config, so it will be much faster. Also software engineers are keen to automate things, so there are other shortcuts too. You don't need them yet though.

When you get to wanting to install your new kernel, post back, someone will tell you how to do it usings a boot menu so you can choose which kernel to boot. Like I said, it won't work the first time and its so much easier to have another go by choosing an item from the boot menu.

I won't tell you the configure names of your loaded modules, that will spoil your learning experiance. I'll help with issues and problems, so be sure to post back.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.
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