How to Compile 2.6 kernel for RedHat 9 and 8.0 and get Fedora Updates
Mike Chirico (mchirico@users.sourceforge.net or mchirico@comcast.net)
Copyright (c) 2004 (GPU Free Documentation License)
Last Updated: Mon Sep 13 08:58:06 EDT 2004
The latest version of this document can be found at:
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/souptonuts/README_26.txt?download
For configs ref:
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=79320&package_id=109944
STEP 1:
Download the latest version of the kernel and any patches.
This documentation is done with linux-2.6.3, but look for
later versions.
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/
And make sure you have the correct pgp key. From the shell
prompt run the following to get the key:
$ gpg --keyserver wwwkeys.pgp.net --recv-keys 0x517D0F0E
Then download "linux-2.6.x.tar.gz.sign" for the current version
and run
$ gpg --verify linux-2.6.7.tar.gz.sign linux-2.6.7.tar.gz
You just need to get authentication on the top first two lines.
For more information reference the following:
http://www.kernel.org/signature.html
Also take a look at the following:
http://www.codemonkey.org.uk/post-halloween-2.5.txt
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/README
This has some useful hints on some of the changes needed.
STEP 2:
Download the latest version of module-init-tools
"module-init-tools-3.0.tar.gz" and
"modutils-2.4.21-23.src.rpm"
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/people/rusty/modules/module-init-tools-3.0.tar.gz
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/people/rusty/modules/modutils-2.4.21-23.src.rpm
STEP 3:
Install module-init-tools. This will replace depmod
[/sbin/depmod] and other tools.
tar -zxvf module-init-tools-3.0.tar.gz
cd module-init-tools-3.0
./configure --prefix=/
make
make install
./generate-modprobe.conf /etc/modprobe.conf
STEP 4:
Install modutils-2.4.21-23.src.rpm. You may get warnings
about user rusty and group rusty not existing. Also, yes,
you'll have to force the install. If you don't do these steps
for both Redhat 9 and Redhat 8, you'll have problems with the
make modules_install.
rpm -i modutils-2.4.21-23.src.rpm
rpmbuild -bb /usr/src/redhat/SPECS/modutils.spec
rpm -Fi /usr/src/redhat/RPMS/i386/modutils-2.4.21-23.i386.rpm
STEP 5:
Install and configure the kernel. Do NOT use the /usr/src/linux
area! Reference the README. I put my files in /home/src/kernel/
gunzip linux-2.6.3.tar.gz tar -xvf linux-2.6.3.tar cd
linux-2.6.3
If you have patches install these now:
bzip2 -dc ../patch-2.6.xx.bz2 | patch -p1
STEP 6:
Copy the appropriate /usr/src/linux-2.4/configs
[kernel-2.4.20-i686.config, kernel-2.4.20-i686-smp.config]
to .config in whatever directory you are installing. In my
case it's /home/src/kernel/linux-2.6.3
cp /usr/src/linux-2.4/configs/kernel-2.4.20-i686.config \
/home/src/kernel/linux-2.6.3/.config
If you don't have the source configs, you can download them
from here:
https://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=79320&package_id=109944
I've also included a file config2.6-chirico which was a 2.6
version for some of my systems. This isn't a bad reference if
you run into trouble.
STEP 7:
Assuming you copied the appropriate kernel-2.4 config to
.config, run the following which will run through necessary
questions for the 2.6 kernel. Or, you might want to use the
config2.6-chirico...this has already been run through make
oldconfig on my system, and I've answered the necessary questions
for a general system.
make oldconfig
See SPECIAL NOTES below if you've done this step multiple
times, plus already done a "make bzImage" and "make
modules" and need to old compiles.
If you cannot get the config you want, instead,
do a "make config" -- this will prompt you for all
the necessary questions.
Or, there is the terminal menu "make menuconfig" interface where
you can specifically select options.
STEP 8:
This is very important. Make sure you're .config has the
following in it CONFIG_EXT3_FS=y You'll run into the following
error if you leave this =m instead of =y:
pivotroot: pivot_root(/sysroot,/sysroot/initrd) failed
This is because Redhat 9.0 and 8.0 use the ext3 filesystem
for /boot ...
STEP 9:
Edit the Makefile and add changes to the Extraversion as desired.
Patches will update these values as well.
VERSION = 2
PATCHLEVEL = 6
SUBLEVEL = 3
EXTRAVERSION = -skim-ch6
STEP 10:
make bzImage
STEP 11:
make modules
STEP 12:
make modules_install
STEP 13:
make install
If you come across errors here, what version of "depmod" is
being picked up in your path?
Also, if you get a module not found, say the following:
No module aic7xxx found for kernel 2.6.x
Then, in /lib/modules/2.6.x/kernel/drivers/scsi/aic7xxx/
cp aic7xxx.ko aic7xxx.o
insmod should look for aic7xxx.ko ;but , it looks for aic7xxx.o
If you still have trouble, make the following change in the
.config
CONFIG_BLK_DEV_SD=y
and go back to STEP 10.
You also may want to ref
kernel-2.6.3-i686-smp-chirico-aic7xxx.config
in
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/souptonuts/configs-0.3.tar.gz?download
STEP 14:
mkdir /sys
STEP 15:
/etc/rc.sysinit needs to be modified. Look for the following
line:
action $"Mounting proc filesystem: " mount -n -t proc /proc /proc
and after this line enter the following:
action $"Mounting sysfs filesystem: " mount -t sysfs none /sys
Here's my /etc/rc.sysinit for reference:
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/souptonuts/rc.sysinit.txt?download
Be very careful at this step. Backup the /etc/rc.sysinit file.
Also make changes to "/etc/fstab" adding the following line:
none /sys sysfs defaults 0 0
A copy of my "/etc/fstab" can be found at the following location
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/souptonuts/fstab.txt?download
You may also want to reference Thomer
[http://thomer.com/linux/migrate-to-2.6.html ]
STEP 16:
Add the following to /etc/fstab for usb support.
/proc/bus/usb /proc/bus/usb usbdevfs defaults 0 0
STEP 17 (CHECKING EVERYTHING):
Check the following:
a. The new image file should be installed on boot and there
should be sym link to it. My latest kernel is 2.6.3-skim-ch6,
and I got the "-skim-ch6" from the values I put in the Makefile,
so I see the following:
/boot
vmlinuz -> vmlinuz-2.6.3-skim-ch6
System.map -> System.map-2.6.3-skim-ch6
/boot/grub/grub.conf Should have been automatically
updated from make.
In /boot/grub/grub.conf change "default=0" to boot
with the new kernel. Here's an example of my
grub.conf:
# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making
# NOTICE: You have a /boot partition. This means that
# all kernel and initrd paths are relative to
# root (hd0,2)
# kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/hda6
# initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/hda
default=0
timeout=10
splashimage=(hd0,2)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
title Red Hat Linux (2.6.3-skim-ch6)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.3-skim-ch6 ro root=LABEL=/
initrd /initrd-2.6.3-skim-ch6.img
b. The directory /sys exists. Also check you /etc/fstab
against mine, noting the "sys entry".
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/souptonuts/fstab.txt?download
c. You added the mount command for sys in /etc/rc.sysinit
d. CONFIG_EXT3_FS=y was used in the .config
e. Run /sbin/lsmod or cat /proc/modules to make
sure a 2.4 kernel module wasn't forgotten. Also
look at "$cat /proc/iomem"
STEP 18 (GETTING FEDORIA UPDATES: YUM):
Yum works with RPM based systems to update packages
automatically. Yum is an officially supported update
mechanism for Fedora, and Fedora mirrors are set up
as Yum repositories.
Download:
http://linux.duke.edu/projects/yum/download.ptml
Before installing Yum, or any RPM package, you'll need
to do the following:
export LD_ASSUME_KERNEL=2.4.19
Next, install Yum
rpm -ivh yum-2.0.7-1.noarch.rpm
The "/etc/yum.conf" may need to be updated. Here is an
example file with the values for redhat 9 entered in
directly
[main]
cachedir=/var/cache/yum
debuglevel=2
logfile=/var/log/yum.log
pkgpolicy=newest
distroverpkg=redhat-release
tolerant=1
exactarch=1
[fedora-stable-9]
name=Fedora Project Stable RPMS for RHL 9
baseurl=http://download.fedora.us/fedora/redhat/9/i386/yum/stable/
gpgcheck=1
[fedora-updates-9]
name=Fedora Project update RPMS for RHL 9
baseurl=http://download.fedora.us/fedora/redhat/9/i386/yum/updates/
gpgcheck=1
NOTE: If you're using Redhat 8, replace 9 with "8.0"
Next update your GPG-KEY
rpm --import http://www.fedora.us/FEDORA-GPG-KEY
rpm --import http://www.fedoralegacy.org/FEDORA-LEGACY-GPG-KEY
Note, you may need more keys. I've copied all the Fedora keys that came on
the DVD.iso. You can download them from here:
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/souptonuts/fedora_gpg_keys.tar.gz?download
The following will download a lot of "HEADER" files, but WILL NOT update
anything. Yes, I too thought my system was being updated with old files,
but IT IS NOT.
yum check-update
After this runs, which takes awhile. You can then update selected packages.
Here is an example of the "libpng10" package being updated.
yum -y update libpng10
Also, subsequent calls to "yum check-update" shows what needs to be updated.
To update every currently installed package
yum -y update
or to exclude packages like kernel and httpd:
yum --exclude kernel* --exclude httpd* -y update
STEP 19 (DEVELOP YOUR OWN 2.6 MODULES):
You're done with the 2.6 build. So learn how to develop
2.6 kernel modules. First, checkout the following article
http://lwn.net/Articles/driver-porting/
Then, take a look at the following sample code, which shows how
to create /proc entries for communicating with the kernel and writing
out to any available tty device.
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/souptonuts/procreadwrite.0.0.3.tar.gz?download
UPGRADING TO FEDORA (DISKLESS INSTALL)
It's possible to completely install Fedora by downloading the *.iso image, mount
it to a loopback device, copy the Linux kernel images to /boot, modify grub, reboot, then
have it find the *.iso image for the rest of the install.
STEP A:
Download the complete DVD package. It's 4 GB:
FC2-i386-DVD.iso
from: http://download.fedora.redhat.com/pub/fedora/linux/core/2/i386/iso/
STEP B:
Once downloaded check the md5sum
md5sum FC2-i386-DVD.iso
STEP C:
Create a directory off of root for mounting the iso image.
mkdir /iso0
STEP D:
The DVD image file can be mounted with the following command:
mount -o loop -t iso9660 /FC2-i386-DVD.iso /iso0
STEP E:
Copy /iso0/images/pxeboot to the /boot directory
cp -r /iso0/images/pxeboot /boot/.
STEP F:
Modify Grub to include the following:
title Fedora (INIT)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /pxeboot/vmlinuz
initrd /pxeboot/initrd.img
Special note: Look at the other grub entries "root (hd0,1)", perhaps
it's listed as "root (hd3,0)" or (hd2,0). This must be the same, so
change hd0 above to match the other entries.
STEP G:
Make note of where FC2-i386-DVD.iso resides by issuing the "df" command.
$ df .
You'll need this location after reboot. It's something like /dev/hda1 or /dev/hdb2
STEP H:
Reboot. When asked for the location of the "iso" file select FILE on the Fedora menu.
put in the /dev/hda1 location above. Note if it's in a subdirectory off of this
filesystem there is a text box to enter that as well.
The install should proceed on its own from here.
SPECIAL NOTES:
Sometimes you may need a "make mrproper" and "make distclean" if
you have previously done a "make modules" and made new changes
to oldconfig.
make mrproper
make distclean
make oldconfig
...
REFERENCES:
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/README
http://www.codemonkey.org.uk/post-halloween-2.5.txt
http://kerneltrap.org/node/view/799
http://thomer.com/linux/migrate-to-2.6.html
http://www.kernel.org/
http://bugzilla.kernel.org/
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&group=linux.kernel
http://linuxdevices.com/articles/AT3855888078.html
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/souptonuts/README_26.txt?download
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/souptonuts/rc.sysinit.txt?download
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/souptonuts/fstab.txt?download
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/souptonuts/configs-0.4.tar.gz?download
https://sourceforge.net/forum/forum.php?forum_id=353715
http://www.redhat.com/software/rhel/kernel26/
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/KernelAnalysis-HOWTO.html
http://www-124.ibm.com/linux/projects/?topic_id=2
(OpenPGP Signature with Kernel)
http://www.kernel.org/signature.html
Describing the boot process (Good but dated for 2.4 kernel. Still, take a look)
http://www.tldp.org/LDP/lki/lki.pdf
FEDORA:
http://fedora.artoo.net/faq/
FEDORA GPG KEYS:
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/souptonuts/fedora_gpg_keys.tar.gz?download
YUM:
http://linux.duke.edu/projects/yum/download.ptml
http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=7448
KERNEL DRIVER DEVELOPMENT IN 2.6:
Excellent (series of articles):
http://lwn.net/Articles/driver-porting/
and
http://tldp.org/LDP/lkmpg/2.6/lkmpg.pdf
Here's my sample program:
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/souptonuts/procreadwrite.0.0.3.tar.gz?download
(Note in 2.6.6+ "current->tty" is being replaced with "current->signal->tty")
Here's one on how to pass command line arguments to a module.
http://www.tldp.org/LDP/lkmpg/2.6/html/x333.html
Good but dated for 2.4 kernel:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/linuxdrive2/
or for the free version
http://www.xml.com/ldd/chapter/book/
http://linuxdevices.com/articles/AT4389927951.html
http://linuxdevices.com/articles/AT5793467888.html
Further index of on-line links:
http://jungla.dit.upm.es/~jmseyas/linux/kernel/hackers-docs.html
The OS used to develop Linux:
http://www.minix.org/
http://www.cs.vu.nl/~ast/minix.html
CONTRIBUTORS:
Juan Antonio Martinez <jantonio@dit.upm.es>
jVirdi <jvirdi@users.sourceforge.nt>
BY: Pejman Moghadam
TAG: kernel
DATE: 2007-11-28 20:14:14