How To Compile Linux Kernel

Compiling custom kernel has its own advantages and disadvantages.Compiling kernel needs to understand few things and then just type couple of commands. This step by step howto covers compiling Linux kernel version 2.6.xx under Debian GNU Linux.

Few step to compile kernel.

# cd /usr/src
# wget http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/linux-x.y.z.tar.bz2

Notes : Make sure GCC and GNU make utility installed on your system before compile kernel.

# tar cvjf linux-x.y.z.tar.bz2
# cd linux-x.y.z

Compile kernel

# make menuconfig

Start compiling to create a compressed kernel image, enter:
# make

compiling to kernel modules
# make modules

Install kernel modules
# make modules_install

To install kernel
# make install

It will install three files into /boot directory as well as modification to your kernel grub configuration file

System.map-2.6.25
config-2.6.25
vmlinuz-2.6.25

Create an initrd image for new installed kernel
# cd /boot
# mkinitrd -o initrd.img-2.6.25 2.6.25

Modify Grub configuration file - /boot/grub/menu.lst
# vi /boot/grub/menu.lst

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.25 Default
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hdb1 ro
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.25
savedefault
boot

Note: its hard to edit this file without knowledge of options so better way is use update-grub command it will do it automaticaly for you.

# update-grub

Now time comes up for testing reboot your system and boot with new kernel and enjoy your system. Good Bye