How to compile a Linux kernel

How to compile a Linux kernel

Load the appropriate kernel "source tree"
fetch a clean kernel source from ftp.kernel.org from directory /pub/linux/kernel/
copy the kernel tar-ball (i.e., the tar.gz file) to /usr/src
cd /usr/src
tar -zxvf kenerl-source.tar.gz

If you are compiling a LRP kernel, fetch the LRP kernel source from
http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/distributions/linux-router/dists/2.9.8/kernel/
or
http://www.tux.org/pub/distributions/tinylinux/linux-router/dists/2.9.8/kernel/
file to fetch is 2.2.19-1-LRP.linux.tar.gz
copy 2.2.19-1-LRP.linux.tar.gz to /usr/src
cd /usr/src
tar -zxvf 2.2.19-1-LRP.linux.tar.gz
rename directory 2.2.19-1-LRP.linux to linux ( mv 2.2.19-1-LRP.linux linux )

Optional: find and apply various patches

Name of patch or file to find	where to put it
a working sample of config file (Debian) or (LRP)	/usr/src/linux
ip_masq_vpn-2.2.19.patch.gz (John Hardin)	/usr/src
ip_masq_ipsec-kfree.patch.gz (John Hardin)	/usr/src
ip_masq_h323.c (Coritel, Rome, Italy)	/usr/src/linux/net/ipv4
ip_masq_icq.c (Andrew Deryabin)	/usr/src/linux/net/ipv4

vi /usr/src/linux/net/ipv4/Makefile
locate and append this line by adding ip_masq_h323.o ip_masq_icq.o
M_OBJS += ip_masq_ftp.o ip_masq_irc.o ip_masq_raudio.o ip_masq_quake.o ip_masq_h323.o ip_masq_icq.o

Apply John Hardin's VPN PPTP patch: (you probably want this patch for LRP kernels)
cd /usr/src
if patch file is in compressed format:    gzip -cd ip_masq_vpn-2.2.19.patch.gz | patch -p0
if patch file is already decompressed:    patch -p0 < ip_masq_vpn-2.2.19.patch

Apply John Hardin's bug fix patch that fixes kfree_skb() [avoid kernel panic under heavy masquerade load]
cd /usr/src
zcat ip_masq_ipsec-kfree.patch.gz | patch -l -p0

Load a configuration file
(assuming you found a file called config (Debian) or (LRP), copy it to /usr/src/linux/ )
(if you are experienced with Linux kernels, you can create your own config using
make menuconfig below, skip the load config step)

cd /usr/src/linux
make menuconfig
choose "Load an Alternate Configuration File", name of the file to load is "config"
Tab to exit. "Do you want to save your new kernel configuration ?" answer "Yes"
(the new config file is now saved as a "hidden" file /usr/src/linux/.config
store it in a safe place, it is the most important record of your kernel build )

Compile and install the kernel Disclaimer

Debian method:	non-Debian method: (LRP kernel also uses this method)
make dep make-kpkg clean	make dep clean bzImage
make-kpkg --revision=my.1.0 kernel_image and/or make-kpkg --revision=my.1.0 kernel_headers	make modules modules_install result is stored in /lib/modules/2.2.19 or /lib/modules/2.2.19-1-LRP
result is a new kernel in Debian packaged format, /usr/src/kernel-image-2.2.19_my.1.0_i386.deb	new kernel called bzImage at /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage LRP kernel: rename bzImage to linux. Copy linux to your LRP boot floppy.
cd /usr/src dpkg -i kernel-image-2.2.19_my.1.0_i386.deb	mv bzImage /boot/linux
	vi /etc/lilo.conf add a few lines like this , lilo (don't forget lilo or it won't boot)

To compile one kernel module driver

Load the appropriate kernel "source tree"
fetch a kernel source from ftp.kernel.org ,from directory /pub/linux/kernel/
copy the kernel tar ball (i.e., the tar.gz file) to /usr/src
cd /usr/src
tar -zxvf kenerl-source.tar.gz the "root" of the source directory should be /usr/src/linux

For LRP, fetch the LRP kernel source from
http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/distributions/linux-router/dists/2.9.8/kernel/
from directory /linux-router/dists/2.9.8/kernel/
file to fetch is 2.2.19-1-LRP.linux.tar.gz
copy 2.2.19-1-LRP.linux.tar.gz to /usr/src
cd /usr/src
tar -zxvf 2.2.19-1-LRP.linux.tar.gz
rename directory 2.2.19-1-LRP.linux to linux ( mv 2.2.19-1-LRP.linux linux )

Set dependencies
make dep

Compile one single kernel module:
For example, for scyld drivers, make a directory called /usr/src/linux/scyld,
copy driver source files (and supporting files) from ftp.scyld.com/pub/network  to /usr/src/linux/scyld
(e.g. 3c59x.c pci-scan.c   pci-scan.h kern_compat.h )
(For ne2k-pci.c, you also need to copy 8390.h from /usr/src/linux/drivers/net to /usr/src/linux/scyld   )
(if you get version.h error message: cd /usr/src/linux, make include/linux/version.h )

cd /usr/src/linux/scyld

gcc -D__KERNEL__ -DMODULE -I/usr/src/linux/include/ -O3 -c 3c59x.c

gcc -D__KERNEL__ -DMODULE -I/usr/src/linux/include/ \
-Wall -Wstrict-prototypes -O3 -c 3c59x.c

gcc -D__KERNEL__ -DMODULE -I/usr/src/linux/include/ \
-Wall -Wstrict-prototypes \
-include/usr/src/linux/include/linux/modversions.h -DMODVERSIONS -O3 -c 3c59x.c

Short cut:
How to compile one kernel module driver for LRP kernel 2.2.19-1-LRP,
without loading the full kernel source tree.

For Debian Sarge kernel modules, see this page.

Load the LRP "kernel headers":
create a directory called /usr/src/linux/include
fetch the LRP kernel headers 2.2.19-1-LRP.header.tar.gz
copy the file 2.2.19-1-LRP.header.tar.gz to /usr/src/linux/include
cd /usr/src/linux/include
tar -zxvf 2.2.19-1-LRP.header.tar.gz

Fix 2 broken links:
cd /usr/include
rm asm
rm linux
ln -s /usr/src/linux/include/asm asm
ln -s /usr/src/linux/include/linux linux

Compile the Scyld drivers fetched from scyld web site:
create a directory called /usr/src/linux/scyld
copy driver source files (and any support files) from ftp.scyld.com/pub/network  to /usr/src/linux/scyld
(e.g. tulip.c pci-scan.c   pci-scan.h kern_compat.h )
(For ne2k-pci.c, you also need to copy 8390.h from /usr/src/linux/drivers/net to /usr/src/linux/scyld   )
cd /usr/src/linux/scyld
gcc -D__KERNEL__ -DMODULE -I/usr/src/linux/include/ -O3 -c tulip.c

Compile the Intel eepro 100 or pro/100 driver fetched from Intel driver support web site:
(Note: recent versions of e100 driver from Intel support web site will refuse to compile under 2.2 kernel)
create a directory called /usr/src/linux/intel
copy the Intel driver source into some directory, for example, /usr/src/linux/intel
cd /usr/src/linux/intel
tar zxvf e100-2.1.15
cd e100-2.1.15
cd src
make

Last revision date: January 25, 2004