--- /usr/local/home/jlnance/tmp/linux/README Thu Jul 27 09:06:20 2000 +++ README Thu Jul 27 09:04:13 2000 @@ -1,22 +1,23 @@ - Linux kernel release 2.3.xx + Linux kernel release 2.4.0-testX -These are the release notes for Linux version 2.3. Read them carefully, +These are the release notes for Linux version 2.4.0-testX. Read them carefully, as they tell you what this is all about, explain how to install the kernel, and what to do if something goes wrong. -Linux version 2.3 is a DEVELOPMENT kernel, and not intended for general +Linux version 2.4.0-testX is a DEVELOPMENT kernel, and not intended for general public use. Different releases may have various and sometimes severe bugs. It is *strongly* recommended that you back up the previous kernel -before installing any new 2.3.xx release. +before installing any new release. If you need to use a proven and stable Linux kernel, please use 2.0.38 -or 2.2.xx. All features which will be in the 2.3.xx releases will be +or 2.2.xx. All features which will be in the 2.4.0-testX releases will be contained in 2.4.xx when the code base has stabilized again. -If you decide to use 2.3, it is recommended that you join the kernel mailing -list. To do this, e-mail majordomo@vger.rutgers.edu, and put in the body -of the message "subscribe linux-kernel" or "subscribe linux-kernel-digest" -for a daily digest of the mailing list (it is a high-traffic list.) +If you decide to use 2.4.0-testX, it is recommended that you join the +kernel mailing list. To do this, e-mail majordomo@vger.rutgers.edu, and +put in the body of the message "subscribe linux-kernel" or "subscribe +linux-kernel-digest" for a daily digest of the mailing list (it is a +high-traffic list.) However, please make sure you don't ask questions which are already answered in various files in the Documentation directory. See DOCUMENTATION below. @@ -59,9 +60,14 @@ INSTALLING the kernel: + - Most linux distributions contain at least portions of the linux kernel + source under /usr/src/linux. It is recommended that you NOT disturb + this code, and that you install the kernel source elsewhere (your + home directory for example). This also allows you to build the kernel + with out having to be root. + - If you install the full sources, do a - cd /usr/src gzip -cd linux-2.3.XX.tar.gz | tar xvf - to get it all put in place. Replace "XX" with the version number of the @@ -71,11 +77,9 @@ distributed in the traditional gzip and the new bzip2 format. To install by patching, get all the newer patch files and do - cd /usr/src gzip -cd patchXX.gz | patch -p0 or - cd /usr/src bzip2 -dc patchXX.bz2 | patch -p0 (repeat xx for all versions bigger than the version of your current @@ -88,24 +92,21 @@ process. It determines the current kernel version and applies any patches found. - cd /usr/src - linux/scripts/patch-kernel + linux/scripts/patch-kernel ./linux - The default directory for the kernel source is /usr/src/linux, but - can be specified as the first argument. Patches are applied from - the current directory, but an alternative directory can be specified - as the second argument. + Patches are applied from the current directory, but an alternative + directory can be specified as the second argument. - Make sure you have no stale .o files and dependencies lying around: - cd /usr/src/linux + cd linux make mrproper You should now have the sources correctly installed. SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS - Compiling and running the 2.3.xx kernels requires up-to-date + Compiling and running the kernel requires up-to-date versions of various software packages. Consult ./Documentation/Changes for the minimum version numbers required and how to get updates for these packages. Beware that using @@ -159,6 +160,10 @@ COMPILING the kernel: + - You do not need to be root in order to build the kernel, only to install + it. Steps which require root privledges are run through su in the + examples below. + - Make sure you have gcc-2.7.2 or newer available. It seems older gcc versions can have problems compiling newer versions of Linux. This is mainly because the older compilers can only generate "a.out"-format @@ -170,10 +175,11 @@ kernel. - Do a "make bzImage" to create a compressed kernel image. If you want - to make a boot disk (without root filesystem or LILO), insert a floppy - in your A: drive, and do a "make bzdisk". It is also possible to do - "make install" if you have lilo installed to suit the kernel makefiles, - but you may want to check your particular lilo setup first. + to make a boot disk (without root filesystem or LILO), insert a + floppy in your A: drive, and do a "su -c 'make bzdisk'". It is also + possible to do "su -c 'make install'" if you have lilo installed to + suit the kernel makefiles, but you may want to check your particular + lilo setup first. - In the unlikely event that your system cannot boot bzImage kernels you can still compile your kernel as zImage. However, since zImage support @@ -183,7 +189,7 @@ linux-kernel mailing list and to H. Peter Anvin . - If you configured any of the parts of the kernel as `modules', you - will have to do "make modules" followed by "make modules_install". + will have to do "make modules" followed by "su -c 'make modules_install'". Read Documentation/modules.txt for more information. For example, an explanation of how to use the modules is included there. @@ -193,14 +199,14 @@ backup of the modules corresponding to that kernel, as well. If you are installing a new kernel with the same version number as your working kernel, make a backup of your modules directory before you - do a "make modules_install". + do a "su -c 'make modules_install'". - In order to boot your new kernel, you'll need to copy the kernel - image (found in /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage after compilation) + image (found in linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage after compilation) to the place where your regular bootable kernel is found. For some, this is on a floppy disk, in which case you can "cp - /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage /dev/fd0" to make a bootable + linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage /dev/fd0" to make a bootable floppy. Please note that you can not boot a kernel by directly dumping it to a 720k double-density 3.5" floppy. In this case, it is highly recommended that you install LILO on your