[rhn-users] kernel-devel

[David A. Ranch]

When you install the kernel-src.rpm, these sources come with a kernel
.config file that Redhat used to compile that specific kernel up.  With
that said, you can occasionally compile new kernel components against
this SRC tree and only install those few modules vs. everything as long
as all of the code dependencies are met.  I personally don't recommend
this approach.  For example, you won't be able to compile in new SCSI
controller into the kernel unless the base kernel already had base SCSI
support turned on.  Make sense?  For your netfilter example, I'd
recommend to do the following:

  1. install the kernel src.rpm for your RUNNING kernel version
  2. make sure that in the top of the kernel's Makefile, the "NAME="
variable is something unique
  3. Apply your patches to the kernel
  4. Make the entire kernel and all modules
  5. make install everything which will create a NEW kernel for you
  6. Update your LILO or Grub to boot this new kernel
  7. Reboot and use the new kernel.  If it works, good! If not, you can
fall back to the stock RH kernel


Why patch the kernel sources at all?  Maybe there is a bug fix available
for the kernel but Redhat hasn't released an official binary yet.  Or
maybe you have a new piece of HW that the stock Redhat kernel doesn't
support but the vendor offers RHEL drivers.  If you patch the Redhat
sources, you'll then have an official Redhat kernel with the drivers you
require.


--David


Jason Sigurdur wrote:
> Hi, what exactly is a 'configured source'? This is something that is
> provided by the kernel-devel package. How does it fullfile requirements
> for building modules without the kernel source package?
>
> Why must one 'patch' the kernel "requiring the kernel source tree" for
> modules? Is it not the porpose of the kernel-devel package to build
> modules with out the kernel-source?
>
> For example; I would like to install a new netfilter module. Why must
> one patch the kernel then go throught a make modules and make
> modules_install?
>
> Thx confused
>
> jason
>
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