Linux - 10 - compiling a new kernel

Why?

Why? Hmmm, i don't know, i guess i wanted to know that i could do it! Apparently, a kernel customised to your specific hardware is meant to lead to better performance. i didn't really notice any significant difference though!

How?

It was very easy, i only had to the following. The most difficult step was choosing the configuration options.

• download the latest kernel, 2.4.21 at the time, from www.kernel.org
• Unzipped the archive
• cd into the unzipped archive
• make xconfig, choose options, save
• make dep
• make bzImage
• make modules
• make modules_install
• cp arch/i386/boot/bzImage /boot/bzImage.new (i.e. copy created kernel image into your boot directory, or where ever you choose to keep your kernel images)
• Edit /etc/lilo.conf to have an entry for the new kernel in case it didn't work. i used the current kernel entry as a template
• /sbin/lilo
• Reboot
• Reinstall the Nvidia graphics drivers, because they didn't work under the new kernel!