Upgrading to Kernel 2.6.12-gentoo-r3 [Solved]

Kenji Miyamoto

Are there any precautions I need to make when upgrading to the Gentoo 2.6.12 kernel? Once done, what do I need to do?

irwinr · Apprentice Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 152 Location: Texas

There's really no way for us to know how much you already know to do, so I'm not sure how much detail to give you :p If you need a line by line list of commands to type, you probably shouldn't be doing it.

However, if you are just unclear on certain aspects, ask about those aspects, be specific.

In general, upgrading your kernel is very safe in Linux. Just leave your old kernel there, add the new kernel as entry 0 in grub.conf, and make your current kernel entry 1 (the second entry). SO if your new kernel doesn't work, reboot back into the old kernel and try again.

-Jeremy

Kenji Miyamoto · Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 11:48 pm Post subject:

Once the new kernel works, should I recompile my software, or at least the modules that aren't part of the kernel installation?

The bigger question is: How do I use the configuration of my 2.6.11-gentoo-r9 kernel as the base for my new configuration?

irwinr · Apprentice Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 152 Location: Texas

Once the new kernel works, should I recompile my software...

Only if your software uses kernel header files as part of it's source code. Only thing that should use those are drivers, which get compiled when you compile your kernel anyhow, so a big resounding NO.

Same with those modules, any 'module' that relies on kernel source should get compiled when you compile the kernel. But just curious, what kind of modules are you talking about?

The kernel is just the overseer of your computer hardware, and your software talks to the kernel through system calls. Your software does not even know what kind of kernel you have when it gets compiled, it's not used at all. You're thinking more along the lines of the compiler toolchain, which gets built from an 'emerge system' or an 'emerge -e system' to rebuild after it's already built.

Bottom line is a new kernel 99.99% of the time just requires you to 'make && make modules_install', copy it to /boot, update grub.conf, and reboot.

-Jeremy

tuam · l33t Joined: 04 May 2004 Posts: 765 Location: CGN, Germany

irwinr · Apprentice Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 152 Location: Texas

Haha, I completely mis-read that part of the question. Sorry.

-Jeremy

Kenji Miyamoto · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 2:01 am Post subject:

Now the only problem is the nVidia kernel module. I've recompiled the two pieces of it, and the module exists as "nvidia.ko". Upon attempting to load with "modprobe nvidia", I get this error:

irwinr · Apprentice Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 152 Location: Texas

Make sure that you're compiling it against your new kernel. It will generally use the headers located in /usr/src/linux (Which is just a symlink to the real kernel folder) Make sure the symlink is updated to point to your new kernel source, then recompile your Nvidia sources.

-Jeremy

Kenji Miyamoto · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 2:12 am Post subject:

I did that before compiling my new kernel within the /usr/src/linux directory. This is why the ALSA drivers didn't have any problems (and load just as before).

irwinr · Apprentice Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 152 Location: Texas

In that case, I'll freely admit I don't have a clue. The only time I've used Nvidia drivers were when they were binary precompiled drivers (Which you can't recompile and each binary they release only works with certain kernels). And I haven't even used the binary ones in a while, I stick with the ATI Radeons that are supported by the DRI open source drivers (Radeon's 9200 and older) because they work out of the box.

-Jeremy

Kenji Miyamoto · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 3:08 am Post subject:

Also, recompiling the driver doesn't do a thing.

nixnut · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 12:30 pm Post subject:

Headrush · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 12:56 pm Post subject:

What is the output of:

mattjgalloway · l33t Joined: 16 Mar 2004 Posts: 761 Location: Coventry, UK

The nvidia error seems to be that you have compiled in nvidia / rage framebuffer support in your kernel - you DO NOT want that - remove it and have only VESA framebuffer (if you want FB that is)
_________________
AMD64 3200+, 1024MB RAM, Gentoo Linux
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Kenji Miyamoto · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 3:09 pm Post subject:

Ridding of the nVidia GB driver fixed it. Thank you!