How To Compile the new 2.6.16 kernel from kernel.org

[kleeman]

I upgraded to the 2.6.17-rc1 kernel on dapper to fix a scsi problem. Seems to work quite well so far.

[xXx 0wn3d xXx]

Good, please tell us later about how it feels

Here are some speed tests:

My Old 2.6.12-10 Kernel:
Boot (No InitNG): 1 min 4 sec.
Boot With InitNG: 54.26 seconds

Internet Test (Tested at testmy.net)
Test 1: 387 kb/s
Test 2: 393 kb/s
Test 3: 369 kb/s
--------------------------------------------------
My new 2.6.16.5 Customized Kernel-Unpatched
Boot (No InitNG): 54.46 seconds
Boot With InitNG: 43.58 seconds

Internet Test (Tested at testmy.net about the same time as the last test)
Test 1: 718 kb/s
Test 2: 711 kb/s
Test 3: 720 kb/s
---------------------------------------------------
I will now compare the 2.6.16.5 kernel - unpatched to 2.6.16 patched kernel.

My observations for 2.16.5 up (compared to 2.6.16 p)
1. It seems to be much more stable- true, no apps have crashed
2. Apps load quicker - From a cold boot, swiftfox loads in 3 seconds compared to 4.3 on the old one.
3. My net seems a little faster - semi-true. Download speed is down 20 kb/s (this could be because alot of people are on now) but page rendering is much faster.
4. Not much difference between patched and unpatched except for those above.


My observations for 2.6.16p compared to 2.6.16.5up
1. Gives the impression of being faster - this is untrue.
2. Much more unstable. I had a few apps crash on 2.6.16p
----------------------------------------------------
There the tests are in.

[plush]

Any clues on my nvram issue? I'm trying everything I can to compile this thing...

[eRoot]

ok, this can be the result of a bad patch. Try re-compiling the kernel and skip the patch step. Also compile the 2.6.16.5 kernel from kernel.org. Just follow the tutorial but replace the old kernel name (2.6.16) with the new one (2.6.16.5).

Thank you for your advice, but unfortunately it didn't help. I'm still getting the same message.

[xXx 0wn3d xXx]

Thank you for your advice, but unfortunately it didn't help. I'm still getting the same message.

ok go under /usr/src as root and delete the 2.6.16 folders. Then just do the tutorial again and skip the patch. I also just thought of something, redownload the kernel. I have a feeling that your download may be corrupt. Good luck.

[eRoot]

ok go under /usr/src as root and delete the 2.6.16 folders. Then just do the tutorial again and skip the patch. I also just thought of something, redownload the kernel. I have a feeling that your download may be corrupt. Good luck.

Hmm, that still didn't do the trick. It did actually compile somewhat longer, but it assume that's just coincidence. You said I might have a corrupt download. well, I used the following link and downloaded it for a second time, as you suggested: http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kern...6.16.5.tar.bz2 That is the correct one, right?
Anyway, It's past 01.00, so I should problaby go to bed. I'll try to figure it out tomorrow. Good night

[geearf]

Thanks for the feedback, it's strange to get worse perfomance with the ck patchset, but I'll stay with just the ubuntu patches then

[dcstar]

I now have about 6 diffrent Kernels in my menu.lst , but how do i completly remove a old or non working kernel, i figure it might be pretty stupid to something wrong here, and have to it all over again.
.......

Just some little hints to those getting used to all the arcane things that go with compiling new kernels:

1/ Always (ALWAYS!) leave the existing "Official" kernel on your system and available to boot up from if things go "Pear-shaped"!

2/ If you want to recompile and re-install the new kernel multiple times (for instance, you may want to remove unnecessary config items that don't apply to your hardware/environment to make the kernel smaller - as well as compile quicker) - then you need to not be running the new kernel of you want to replace it. Once, you have recompiled a new .deb file, reboot you old kernel to then remove the old "new" kernel, and then do the dkpg step to install your new "new" kernel.

Just out of interest, removing many (many) items from my config gave me a generated .deb file of 4.0 MB, and the complie time was a fraction of the full config. My new kernel still does everything it should on my system but uses less memory because it has less never (ever) used code.

BTW, my boot time with old K7 kernel, 70 seconds, with new kernel (cut down items compile), 52 seconds and yes, it does seem faster in so many other areas........

[geearf]

I've never had any troubles reinstalling the already running kernel.. maybe I was just lucky ?

[bunnieofdoom]

i followed this guide exactly and xserver wont start. it says Fatal cant load module nvidia.

all nvidia related modules are updated to latest version allready anythoughts?