[solved] Compiling A Custom Kernel W/ Same Config

Question

I apologize in advance if this is repetitive but i am just a little confused with a few questions.
What i want to do is be able to pretty much just have the ability to add a module or compile somthing on top of the default linux
kernel. I guess the only way to do that is to recompile a linux kernel with this guide:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Ke … ild_System
My questions:
In the guide it says to change PKGBUILD and change:
# pkgname=linux-custom       # Build kernel with a different name
to
pkgname=linux-test
I understand that. it also says to disable conflicts if you want two kernels.
is that just comenting "provides" , "conflicts" and "replaces"
like:
#next lines give you problems with nvidia drivers which depend on kernel
#provides=('kernel26')
#conflicts=('kernel26')
#replaces=('kernel26'
Also when i select or uncomment menuconfig and lets say not change anything at all is that going to be the same configuration as it would be if i were to install the kernel with pacman. It should be the same thing i have right now? right?
So i can say add framebuffer support or something like that and compile and install and have the exact same kernel now plus FB support.
Thanks,
Paul
Last edited by paulb787 (2012-06-22 05:50:35)

Answer 1

1.
What i want to do is be able to pretty much just have the ability to add a module or compile somthing on top of the default linux kernel.
You would need linux-headers to do that like this (more or less):
cd your-src/kernel
make SYSSRC=/lib/modules/${current-kernel-version}/build module
If you want to customize your kernel further, change its config options, modify default features, etc., then you need to recompile it entirely as described in the Wiki.
2.
is that just comenting "provides" , "conflicts" and "replaces"
Yes. You also need to create a custom linux-${your-custom-kernel-name}.preset in order to generate initramfs. Of course, you can as well use the default name and change the settings in the config file (via menuconfig, nconfig or whatever tool you choose the achieve this). Then nothing has to be changed as all the add-ons will follow the naming convention reserved for the default kernel.
3.
Also when i select or uncomment menuconfig and lets say not change anything at all is that going to be the same configuration as it would be if i were to install the kernel with pacman?
Yes.
4.
So i can say add framebuffer support or something like that and compile and install and have the exact same kernel now plus FB support.
Basically yes, though I'm wondering for which video board you need extra FB support...
Last edited by bohoomil (2012-06-20 00:41:15)