VLUG Meeting Notes 2003.03.11

TOPIC: Kernel Compiling 101

Presenter: Carl Constantine

NEWS

• IBM SCO suit
• new XFree out - kernel to desktop layer esp in font handling
• new GNU Cash out
• Thomas currently playing with Appgen® MyBooks business accounting package ported from doze to other platforms
• LinuxCanada allegedly opensourcing their Linux/doze accounting package
• SQLLedger double-entry accounting package using PostgreSQL and PHP
• Sweden(?) distributing tax package as an OpenOffice CD w/ templates/etc

Newbie Minute: no newbie minute this month

Main Presentation: Carl - Kernel Compiling 101

what is the kernel?

• controls interaction between hardware & software
• contains all dev drivers for your system
• major numbers and minor numbers - ie the .4 and .18 (resp) in 2.4.18
• monolithic kernel vs microkernel (ie Linux/NT vs Mach microkernel)

why compile?

• it used to be that this had to be done to pare down and remove unneeded bulk
• most commonly done to satisfy need for a module not (yet) in kernel - ie ALSA
• speed gain
• 'look at me' factor
• learn

where to get it

• kernel.org -- generic, non-tweaked
• your distro -- preferred option
  • may be patched more appropriately for the distro as installed
  • may included specific extra bug fixes

installing

1. use distro pkg -- binary installation
2. uncompress and build from source tarball perhaps using a distro specific tool to accomplish this
3. additionally can use distro source pkg and compile to use as above

synaptic (an aside)

This is a tool for installing packages which is gaining some ground.
• front end for apt-get and now for Red Hat -style distros
• some stormpackage ancestry, but mostly independent successor

configuring the kernel

• .config file examined
• various directories are examined
• various methods of make are demonstrated:
  • make config
    • nasty console-based executable which allows kernel config in one direction only (start-to-finish)
    • need to start over if something borks during configuration
  
  
  • make menuconfig
    • ncurses-driven interface allows bidirectional movement through configuration
  
  
  • make xconfig
    • Motif X-Window (GUI) interface allowing easy-to use movement around in the config file
    • audience member adds that it's a nice thing to do to open a copy of the config file in a term and compare it to the data available in make xconfig
    • module loading & unloading interjection takes us on brief detour
    • various useful (and possibly not) things are looked at

making and installing the kernel and modules

• make dep
• make
• make modules
• make modules install
• make install (optionally, as this is often done manually)

making and installing the kernel and modules

• GRUB update shown by Carl rebooting the Compaq laptop
• questions about module trees and System.map file
• lilo needs to be run to update

Meeting Adjourned  to various locations.

Next Meeting:

Where: University of Victoria, Cornett Room B-143
When: April 08, 2003
Topic: Linux telephony

Notes by Mike Pfleger - VLUG Secretary.
secretary@vlug.org