YES! Itīs recomended to recompile the kernel. The kernel installed during install-time if a Generic one. It has support for all types of hardware devices. The first thing you do after successfull intall is kernel recompilation. Do do that you need the kernel source-code. It is usally located on the Linux Distrubution CD or a newer version can be downloaded from ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/os/Linux. Get the latest stable kernel, at the time of writing 2.2.x, or if you insist get 2.0.X.
root# cd /usr/src
root# rm linux //Remove the link to the old source
root# gzip -dc </pathtothenew-linux-src-tar.gz**> | tar xvf -
//unpack the new source into the right directory **the file you
downloaded
root# ln -s <the new linux src-dir created, something like linux-2.0.36> linux
//sets the linux link to point to linux.2.0.36
Now the source is installed -> now compile it.
root# cd /usr/src
root# make xconfig (or "make menuconfig" or "make config" if you
prefer to answer a never ending list of questions)
Go through all the menues and select the hardware/device support you need. NOTE! if you are going to access the INTERNET make sure to select PPP and TCP/IP. Save the settings and the do:;
root# make dep
root# make clean
root# make zImage
The zImgae (new kernel) is now being compiled. When the compilation has completed do:
root# mv /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/zImage /boot/<name of your choise>
root# vi /etc/lilo.conf
Add the follwing to the lilo.conf file:
image=/boot/lin2036
label=anynameyou want
root=/dev/hda3 # Should be the same as the rest of the entries in the file
e.g. ...= /dev/hda1 or /dev/sda1
read-only
Do:
root# lilo //registers the kernel so that it can be booted
Nown you are finished. Reboot the sustem and boot the new kernel. If you have more than 64Mb of RAM add the followin line to /etc/lilo.conf:
image ....
.......
append="mem=0x8000000" // 0x8000000 is the amount of RAM in HEX in this case 128MB.
Last updated 1999-03-18 by Christian Holm.