Chapter 11

KERNEL

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 Objectives

Define kernel properties

Demonstrate new kernel preparation
Identify and use kernel configuration tools
Recompile and install a kernel
Identify kernel modules
Configure LILO to use a new kernel

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 The Linux Kernel

It’s loaded at initial bootup of Linux system,

manages activities : I/O, memory, processes, network
interface,…
Why would you want to build a new kernel ?
(newer hardware, faster, more stable, …)
Kernel can be built with 2 basic options :
– Device drivers can be built directly into the
kernel binary itself (monolithic)
– Device drivers can be built as external modules
to the kernel (modular)
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 Kernel Version Numbering

Kernel version numbers are made by three basic

components:
– The major number
– The minor number
– The micro number (patch number)
There is the fourth number, sometimes applied
after a dash is genarally the patch level , applied by
kernel maintainers
Ex : 2 . 4 . 7 - 10

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 Kernel Version Numbering

Kernel version numbering is very structured :

– The minor number is even = stable version
– The minor number is odd = development ver.
– A patch constitutes a more precise measurement
of the kernel version. All patchs to the kernel
are cumulative. You simply have to obtain and
apply the latest patch for the kernel to be sure
you have the most up-to-date patched support
To find out what kernel you are running :
# uname -r
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 Recent Kernel Changes

There are many changes from 2.2 to 2.4

– Itanium and X86-64 AMD Hamer CPU support
– Improve PnP/hot swappable device regconition
– Journaling file systems : ext3, ReiserFS, ..
–…

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 Preparing For The New Kernel

See
/usr/src/linux/Documentation/Changes
Software tools
The source tree (source code)
Apply patches to the kernel source code

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 Software Tools

make : determines which pieces of a large program

need to be recompiled and compile them. It executes
commands in Makefile (sometime named makefile)
to update programs or module components
C/gcc : C compiler integrated into gcc
binutils: a collection of binary utilities :
gas(assembler), ld(likner), nm, ranlib, objdump, …

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 The Source Tree

Kernel source released as a zipped tar file,

extension of .tar.gz or .tar.bz2
Ex: linux-2.4.19-16.tar.gz
You should NEVER unpack your kernel sources
directly into /usr/src/linux
# tar xzfv linux-2.4.19-16.tar.gz –C /usr/src

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 Apply patches to kernel source

A patch file is editing instructions to change one set

of files into new version of the files Ex: patch-2.4.19-
16-1-acl.gz
Steps to patch :
# ln –s /usr/src/linux-2.4.19-16 /usr/src/linux
# cp patch-2.4.19-16-1-acl /usr/src/linux
# cd /usr/src/linux
# cat patch-2.4.19-16-1-acl | patch –p1

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 Customize & Install New Kernel

There are many possible make targets in the Linux

kernel Makefile that can be used to build kernel :
make dep Build a list of all kernel deps
make clean Remove old binaries and .o files
make zlilo Make a compressed vmlinuz
image and update LILO
make zImage Make a simple compressed image
make bzImage Build an image compressed with gzip

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 General Procedure to build kernel

•Step 1: Configure kernel’s parameters and build it

– make config or make menuconfig or make
xconfig
– make dep, make clean, make bzImage

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 General Procedure to build kernel

•Step 2: Compile modules

make modules
•Step 3: Install modules
make modules_install
•Step 4: Install kernel
make install
•Step 5: Check boot loader configuration
•Step 6: Backup file .config

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 make menuconfig Interface

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 make xconfig Interface

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 Kernel Default Option with rdev

With rdev or its new name rootflags , you can set

default option appended to your new kernel image
without add them to /etc/lilo.conf
( See #man rdev for more information )

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 Kernel Modules

insmod Install & binding a module to kernel.You can customize

module loadtime parameters in /etc/modules.conf or /etc/conf.modules
rmmod Unload a module from kernel
lsmod List currently loaded modules in kernel
modinfo Details about a module’s description
genksyms Generates symbol version information
modprobe Load a set of modules either a single module, a stack of
dependent modules or all modules that are marked with a specified tag
depmod Build a relationship table for modules that are required of
running kernel.You can put it in start-up script and run depmod –a
( Package : modutils )

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 Building a Monolithic Kernel

If you build all supports directly into kernel, the

new kernel referred monolithic kernel
In kernel configuration, a “Y” answer for an
option means to build that option into the kernel
(monolithic); a “N” means exclude and “M” means
to build as a module.
You can omit make modules and make
modules_install when building a new kernel

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 Boot Loader Features & Config
LILO (Linux Loader)
How to install ?
– Install LILO manually from the packet
– Let your Linux automatically install LILO
Where to install ? – first 1024 logical cylinders
– On a diskette
– In the boot sector of a primary or logical Linux
partition on the first harddisk
– In the Master Boot Record
You must run /sbin/lilo to update the configuration in
file /etc/lilo.conf
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 LILO Configuration File

[root@lpi linux-2.4]# more /etc/lilo.conf

timeout=50
default=linux
boot=/dev/hda
root=/dev/hda1
message=/boot/message
image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.7-10
label=linux
read-only

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 Using LILO to Test a New Kernel

Make new entry in /etc/lilo.conf for your new

kernel :
…
image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.19-16
label=My New Kernel
read-only
Run /sbin/lilo –v command *
Boot with new kernel and observe

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 LILO and Boot Options

LILO command options

See #man lilo
Boot options
See #man lilo.conf and go to
“KERNEL OPTIONS” category

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 GRUB (GRand and Unified nified Bootloader)

•GRUB can boot multiple OS and quickly gaining popularity, may

soon replace LILO
•How to install ?
– Install GRUB manually
– Let your Linux automatically install GRUB
•Where to install ? – first 1024 logical cylinders
– On a diskette
– In the boot sector of a primary or logical Linux partition on
the first harddisk
– In the Master Boot Record
• You DON’T need to run /sbin/grub to update the configuration
in file /etc/grub.conf

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 LOADLIN

•It’s a MS-DOS program that can launch a Linux

kernel from DOS prompt.This is very useful if you
have hardware that relies on MS-DOS driver.

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