questions before compiling kernel

malan · n00b Joined: 05 May 2004 Posts: 9 Location: France

Hello everyone,

Everything is going well, my Gentoo Linux is now installed ( booting from knoppix - build from stage2 - genkernel of gentoo-sources).

Now, I would like to optimize my kernel. For example, unset some unnecessary options, like PCI card that I don't have installed in my PC, et cetera.

My question:
1) What is a secure procedure I should follow ?
2) Do I need emerge an other kernel ( ex: gentoo-dev-sources )
3) Is there some sort of "default kernel configuration file" (use by genkernel or something else) in which I can simply remove the options that denote devices and such that I don't have on my machine ?

4) how will I install this new kernel in addition to the one that I have that already works.

5) somethings special to make.conf ( USE variable ... )

As you can see, I am a new user of Linux, and that's even more so for Gentoo.

Here's my hardware configuration :
PENTIUM IV
512 M° RAM
ADAPTEC SCSI CARD 78xx familly
SCSI CDR PLEXTOR
IDE CDROM
SANDISK READER/WRITER FOR COMPACT FLASH CARD
EPSON USB SCANNER
NETWORK PRINTER

Thanks for your help.

ben · Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 9:15 pm Post subject:

quick
1) do not overwrite your existing kernel and grub/lilo entries, just add another one
2)not needed for the task at hand, but may be usefull to get extra functionality/speedup (check doc for upgrading from2.4 to 2.6 line)
3)the configuration is stored in /usr/src/linux/.config so make a backup of this file to your /home. If you change the kernel (not only the config) you can copy the backup .config to the newly created /usr/src/linux/.config and make oldconfig
4_mount /boot and copy arch/i386/boot/bzImage to it AFTER backing up the old one.

Time is running out

HTH
Ben

ectospasm · Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 9:24 pm Post subject:

The Kernel HOWTO is something you should read. You can link to an almost complete version of it here:

http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Kernel-HOWTO/index.html

I haven't read any of the new revisions, but most of the old one should still apply. I would suggest reading the mostly complete one (by Kwan Lowe), since that will become the official HOWTO when it's finished. The old one is available too, in case for whatever reason the new one doesn't work for you.[/url]
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