HowTo: Installing and using KernelCheck

[master_kernel]

NOTE: THERE IS A BUG IN KERNELCHECK LUMEN AS DESCRIBED AT https://bugs.launchpad.net/kernelcheck/+bug/432732. PATCHING INSTRUCTIONS CAN BE FOUND THERE.

Check out the blog: http://kernelcheck.blogspot.com/

The purpose of this thread is to help KernelCheck users to install, use, and/or hack KernelCheck, a program written by myself. If you do not want to install KernelCheck, an automated kernel builder, please visit the Master Kernel Thread instead. Now, a short description. KernelCheck is a project that is designed to automatically build any 2.6 kernel from the upstream source. KernelCheck can help users fix hardware problems and improve boot time by customising the kernel configuration. KernelCheck is currently under the GNU Public License.

Questions can also be asked via IRC on the #kernelcheck channel on irc.freenode.net or sent to team-kcheck@lists.launchpad.net.

KernelCheck can be used for several purposes:

1. Fixing hardware issues
2. Speeding up your computer with a shiny new kernel
3. Automatically downloading, compiling, and installing the latest kernel

KernelCheck can install any stable 2.6 kernel, the latest stable patch, the latest stable development prepatch, the latest mm patch, a custom patch, or none at all. Usually the prepatch is less stable than the normal performance patch, but it is still widely used.

So, you want to install KernelCheck? There are two versions available:

• Stable - 1.2.5 "Lumen"
• Development - 1.5.0 "Delta"

What's the difference? Well, the stable version of KernelCheck is a "tried and true" version, a version that has been tested over and over to get rid of as many bugs as possible before going public. The development version contains new features, but is often buggier than the stable version. The development installation method is the last described method on this post. Certain features may not work, such as proprietary video driver installation in the development version.


Recommended Installation Method (Stable)

1. Download the Ubuntu package for KernelCheck here.
2. Install KernelCheck
   

   cd location of package
   sudo dpkg -i kernelcheck_1.2.5-3_all.deb

3. Use it: Go to Application > System Tools > KernelCheck and read the usage instructions below.

Advanced/Manual Installation Method (Stable)

1. Download the KernelCheck source here.
2. Unpack the archive
   

   tar -xzf kernelcheck-*.tar.gz

3. Install KernelCheck
   

   cd kernelcheck-*

   sudo python setup.py install

4. Use it
   

   sudo kernelcheck

Advanced/Manual Installation Method (Development)

1. Download the KernelCheck source from LaunchPad:
   

   bzr branch lp:kernelcheck

2. Enter the directory:
   

   cd kernelcheck

3. Install KernelCheck
   

   sudo python setup.py install

4. Use it
   

   sudo kernelcheck

Usage
Full documentation for the stable version is available at http://kcheck.sourceforge.net/pool/D...tion-Lumen.pdf. Note that usage may vary if you use the development version of KernelCheck.

KernelCheck can be opened in a variety of ways, either by going to Application > System Tools > KernelCheck, or by opening a terminal and typing in:

sudo kernelcheck

If you don't use sudo (or some other method of authentication, the program will show an error telling you to run it as root. If it does open, the first thing to do is download the kernel information. After doing that, the information the program shows should update.

The basic things the program will show you are:

1. Your running kernel
2. The latest kernel
3. The latest kernel patch

Now on to building the kernel. Under Kernel Patch Options, select the option that you wish to use. Unless you know what you're doing, I strongly recommend using the default selected. Under Advanced Options, you can choose whether you want to configure the kernel options, reconfigure the X server, and install an nVidia module. The nVidia option will remove any nVidia-related packages, any binary version installed, and install the latest one. This will remove nVidia support for older kernels until you run the binary file in /usr/src with the -K option with every new kernel you use, not compiled with KernelCheck. It is strongly recommended that you configure the kernel options yourself, mainly to make sure your hardware is supported. Now to build the kernel, all you have to do is go to Program > Build New Kernel.

Hacking
KernelCheck Lumen Hack #1: Change the name of the kernel

1. Open up a terminal and type:
   

   sudo nano /usr/lib/python2.5/site-packages/KernelCheck/library/kscript.sh

2. Find the line that says: KERNELNAME="Candela"
3. Change the word "Candela" to whatever you want to name your kernel.
4. Use CTRL+Q to quit and save the changes.
5. Profit!

Post your questions, comments, requests, etc. here.


Lumen planned features:
Real Fglrx and nVidia support (nVidia via vor's method, Fglrx via kernel source and checker)
Patches for automatic ALSA (added)
Patches for automatic kernel optimization
Old stable kernel support (added)
Proxy update
Fix non-interactive display in Lumen
Dependency python-gnome2 fix

[master_kernel]

There number of KernelCheck downloads has doubled since I posted this topic. Thank you for your support.

[FRuMMaGe]

Compiling as I type this.

+ 1 for hacking section

What theme are you using? The metallic black looks great on the screenshots

[az_s_za]

KernelCheck is a project that is designed to easily build the latest kernel for your distribution

Sounds self-explanatory, but I have to check... can I use KernelCheck (or the instructions in your Master Kernel Thread for that matter) on a different (not Ubuntu) debian-based distro?

I have not compiled a kernel before, but want to try this on another distro which uses an older kernel.

Thanks.

[master_kernel]

Originally Posted by az_s_za Sounds self-explanatory, but I have to check... can I use KernelCheck (or the instructions in your Master Kernel Thread for that matter) on a different (not Ubuntu) debian-based distro? I have not compiled a kernel before, but want to try this on another distro which uses an older kernel. Thanks.

I don't see why not. I believe all debian-based system use APT, so it should work. However, I do not know if it will work on a RPM system, but I haven't tried.

[master_kernel]

Originally Posted by FRuMMaGe Compiling as I type this. + 1 for hacking section What theme are you using? The metallic black looks great on the screenshots

You're the second person to ask. I'll add which icon theme and GTK theme I'm using to the Howto.

[az_s_za]

Following the steps above, when I run kernelcheck, I get the following error message:

Traceback (most recent call last): File "/usr/bin/kernelcheck-stage2", line 23, in ? pygtk.require('2.0') File "/var/lib/python-support/python2.4/pygtk.py", line 69, in require assert not sys.modules.has_key('gtk'), \ AssertionError: pygtk.require() must be called before importing gtk

???

[master_kernel]

Are you using Ubuntu?

It should work, this was tested on a fresh install of Feisty, and Gutsy.

However, if you continue to receive this error do the following:

Open a terminal and enter:

sudo gedit /usr/bin/kernelcheck-stage2

Find the line the reads 'pygtk.require('2.0')'
Remove that line, save, and run kernelcheck

[master_kernel]

Coming in the next release (1.0.6) of KernelCheck:

• New security update method
• Support for installing several proprietary drivers for the new kernel including, but not limited to:

  • FGLRX
  • nVidia
  • ndiswrapper

• Reconfigure X Server option

You can preview (test) these features in KernelCheck Codename HYDRA, KernelCheck 1.0.6 Alpha. Download it from the download page at the KernelCheck website.

Any requests can be posted here.

[az_s_za]

No, I am compiling this new kernel for Elive (debian with Enlightenment desktop).

Since my last post, I used the instructions on your Master Kernel Thread which worked splendidly.
Thank you.

Next time I'll try kernelcheck again, using your instructions. Thanks.