HOWTO: Kernel Compilation for Newbies

[tseliot]

How do u enable all repositories, or how do u know if you have them enabled

There are two ways to do that:

1) This is the method which is described in The Unofficial Ubuntu starter guide (choose the following menus: System/help/Ubuntu 5.10 starter guide)

This is the graphical method

3. How do I add Universe and Multiverse?

By default, Ubuntu comes pre-configured with basic and security update repositories. To enable the extra Universe and Multiverse repositories:

1. Start Synaptic by selecting System → Administration → Synaptic Package Manager from the desktop menu system.
2. In Synaptic choose Settings-> Repositories.
3. Click the Settings button.
4. Tick Show disabled software sources, then click Close.
5. On the Repositories dialog box click Add. There are three separate repositories; Breezy Badger, Security Updates and Updates. Select each repository and check Officially supported, Restricted copyright, Community maintained (Universe) and Non-free (Multiverse). Ensure you click OK between each repository to save your changes.
6. You should now see checkboxes next to each repository, scroll through the list and ensure they are all checked.

4. How do I add backports?

Backports are newer versions of applications made available for the current stable release of Ubuntu.

1. Start Synaptic by selecting System → Administration → Synaptic Package Manager from the desktop menu system.
2. In Synaptic choose Settings-> Repositories.
3. Click on Add and then Custom.
4. Paste the following line into the box:

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-backports main universe multiverse restricted

5. Click Ok and then click Yes when it asks you to reload. Backports is now available.

2) I do it in the following way (This is the textual mode):

type:

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list (or sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list)

remove the "##" before any line which begins with "deb http" or "deb-src"

e.g.

Before the operation

##deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-updates main restricted
##deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-updates main restricted

after the operation

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-updates main restricted
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-updates main restricted

Then save the file and exit.

Open Synaptic/Kynaptic and press the Reload button

[nostracosa]

can u check why is this happening please? Ty in advance..

----@----:/usr/src$ sudo make-kpkg clean
We do not seem to be in a top level linux kernel source directory
tree. Since we are trying to make a kernel package, that does not make
sense. Please change directory to a top level linux kernel source
directory, and try again. (If I am wrong, and this is indeed a top
level linux kernel source directory, then I have gotten sadly out of
date with current kernels, and you should upgrade kernel-package)

This happens even if i introduce the "sudo make-kpkg --initrd --append-to-version=-custom kernel_image kernel_headers modules_image" command

" top level linux kernel source directory"?

If u could give me a solution it would be great _o_

[MichaelM]

Try issuing the command from /usr/src/linux .

[nostracosa]

ty i've tried to assume it from /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.10 and it worked !

it's compiling now!

ty for the help!

Tseliot, ty for the tutorials.

[mdr]

Great Howto, thanks very much!

seconded by me

[nostracosa]

Can i remove the kernel that was there before i have installed the compiled one?

ty in advance

[phanboy_iv]

I don't think so and I wouldn't. Keep the old kernel there just in case. You can remove it afterwards
if you must.

[nrwilk]

I want to recompile my kernal in order to get hibernate functionality. How would I go about including that in the compile?

When I run the hibernate command in the terminal, I get the following:

Your kernel does not have any recent Software Suspend 2 support compiled in.
Please follow the HOWTO linked from http://softwaresuspend.berlios.de/ for
instructions on how to compile Software Suspend into your kernel.
hibernate: Aborting.

I just want to be able to leave it on at night, but it's too loud as is. I also want to get more aquainted with kernel compilation anyway.

I'd also like to be able to mount and use my iPod via firewire on the linux box. Any tips to get this supported in a kernel I'd compile?

EDIT: I found what looks to be a very detailed how-to on this subject here

http://www.digitalhermit.com/linux/K...ild-HOWTO.html

Does this one apply to the kernel source that would download from our repositories?

[beijingjj]

I've had this happen with just about any distro I've ever used, including Ubuntu which I'm using now.

Out of the box install everything works. Then I install the latest kernel and strange things start happening, for example:

1. I have to manually load the modules for my wireless card (ipw2200).
2. Either I put "psmouse.proto=imps" as a kernel boot option and my touchpad works but my trackpoint doesn't, or I don't put that option and the trackpoint works but some of the features of the touchpad don't work.
3. Touchpad scrollings no longer works.

All of the scripts and config files are the same, all I've done is update the kernel, so I would like to understand where these differences come from. In this particular case I've even added my wireless card module to /etc/modules but still have to manually load it for it to work.

Although I am happy to find work-arounds to get these things working again I'd really like to understand why this is happening.

Thanks in advance!

[Locutus]

Thanks for a really excellent HOWTO. This was something which has scared me for over 4 years. I can now say that I have successfully compiled my own kernel. Everything works great! My system even feels a little faster, but maybe I am just imagining it. Thanks again!

Kind Regards,

Locutus