How-To: Compile a Linux Kernel @ OSWeekly.com

LincLinc OwnerDetroit Icrontian
edited May 2006 in Science & Tech
The kernel is the core piece of most operating systems. It is a
piece of software responsible for the communication between hardware and
software components.
As a basic component of an operating system, a
kernel provides abstraction layers for hardware, especially for memory,
processors and communication between hardware and software. It also
provides software facilities such as process abstractions and makes
interprocess communication easier.
Source: OS Weekly

Comments

  • drasnordrasnor Starship Operator Hawthorne, CA Icrontian
    edited May 2006
    I do this so often I didn't really think it merited an explanation. There's a few very good reasons why you should compile your own kernel:

    Because a kernel without excess bloat (support for stuff that isn't in your PC and/or isn't even offered on your arch) takes less time to load (shortens boot time).

    Because you generally want to have the latest stable kernel for security reasons.

    Because you want to use a feature that's in the kernel that your choice of distro chose to disable.

    Article notes:
    * make xconfig only works when qt is installed (i.e. you use KDE).
    * Don't compile sound card drivers into the kernel (not to be confused with sound card support). ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture) updates much more frequently than the kernel so it's good to use their kernel modules and not the ones in the vanilla kernel.
    * Typically I only have to run make && make modules_install to get everything built.

    Also, they glossed over the hardest part: actually configuring the kernel. I'm inspired, I might write a HOWTO.

    -drasnor :fold:
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