How to complie Linux Kernel 2.6

Step # 1 Get Latest Linux kernel code

Visit http://kernel.org/ and download the latest source code. File name would be linux-x.y.z.tar.bz2, where x.y.z is actual version number. For example file inux-2.6.25.tar.bz2 represents 2.6.25 kernel version. Use wget command to download kernel source code:

#root cd /tmp
wget http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/linux-x.y.z.tar.bz2 Note: Replace x.y.z with actual version number.

Step # 2 Extract tar (.tar.bz3) file

Type the following command:

# tar -xjvf linux-2.6.25.tar.bz2 -C /usr/src
# cd /usr/src
Install Location

#cd /usr/src
Step # 3 Configure kernel

Before you configure kernel make sure you have development tools (gcc compilers and related tools) are installed on your system. If gcc compiler and tools are not installed then use rpm command under Redhat Linux to install development tools.

#rpm -ivh gcc
Now you can start kernel configuration by typing any one of the command:

make menuconfig - Text based color menus, radiolists & dialogs. This option also useful on remote server if you wanna compile kernel remotely.

make xconfig - X windows (Qt) based configuration tool, works best under KDE desktop

make gconfig - X windows (Gtk) based configuration tool, works best under Gnome Dekstop. For example make menuconfig command launches following screen:

#make menuconfig
You have to select different options as per your need. Each configuration option has HELP button associated with it so select help button to get help.

Step # 4 Compile kernel

Start compiling to create a compressed kernel image, enter:

#make
Start compiling to kernel modules:

#make modules
Install kernel modules (become a root user, use su command):

#make modules_install
Step # 5 Install kernel

So far we have compiled kernel and installed kernel modules. It is time to install kernel itself.

#make install
It will install three files into /boot directory as well as modification to your kernel grub configuration file: System.map-2.6.25 config-2.6.25 vmlinuz-2.6.25

Step # 7 Modify Grub configuration file - /boot/grub/grub.lst

Open file using vi:

#vi /boot/grub/menu.lst
title Redhat Linux,kernel 2.6.25
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hdb1 ro
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.25

update-grub

Step # 8 : Reboot computer and boot into your new kernel

Just issue reboot command:

#reboot