Compiling a kernel
------------------


1 . Unpack the sources: Login in as 'root' throughout all these steps.
    Mount Redhat linux cdrom (Disc 2 of Redhat9) and install the linux kernel
    source rpm
            bash$ su - root                                                  
            bash# cd /mnt/cdrom/RedHat/RPMS                                  
            bash# rpm -i kernel-headers*.rpm                                 
            bash# rpm -i kernel-source*.rpm                                  
            bash# rpm -i dev86*.rpm                                          
            bash# rpm -i bin86*.rpm 
	    
2.     Clean : Before doing mrproper below, you may want to backup the     .config file.

	bash# cd /usr/src/linux
        bash# make clean
        bash# make mrproper  # "MUST DO THIS mrproper", otherwise you will face hell lot of problems !!
        bash# make clean
	
3.     Copy the config file from the old kernel 
       
       bash# mkdir /usr/src/kernelconfigs
       
       Copy the config over here and load it when you start either xconfig or menuconfig.

4.     COnfigure the kernel

	bash# cd /usr/src/linux                                      
        bash# make xconfig or bash# make menuconfig

5.  	After configuring and saving the configuration
        bash# make dep
	
	After, this , change the externalversion in vi Makefile (/usr/src/linux)

6.	Make
	bash# nohup make bzImage &
        bash# tail -f nohup.out
        This will put the kernel in /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage
	
7.	Compiling Modules

	bash# cd /usr/src/linux                                                                   
        # Redirect outputs such that you do not overwrite the nohup.out which is still running...
        bash# nohup make modules 1> modules.out 2> modules.err  &

	bash# less nohup.out
        bash# less modules.err
        bash# less modules.out
        
	bash# make modules_install

8.	bash# cp /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage     /boot/bzImage.vinod
    	
        cd /boot
	mkinitrd  ./initrd-vinod.img   2.4.18-19.8.0custom 
	
	Note : 2.4.18-19.8.0custom will be in /lib/modules
	
9.	In /etc/grub.conf (take a backup of this file)

	add,
	  title Red Hat Linux (Custom Kernel)
                root (hd0,8) # same as old linux kernel
                kernel /bzImage.vinod ro root=LABEL=/ hdd=ide-scsi
                initrd /initrd-vinod.img
		
	
	
	Note : (hd0,8) varies for each laptop. Find out the correct parameter in your /etc/grub.conf
	
You can save this file and restart. Good Luck!