X-org : how to remove CONFIG_FB_RADEON in /proc/config.gz?

lowley · n00b Joined: 22 Jul 2016 Posts: 47

hello,

I am facing to a problem in the launching of startx (which could allow me to test the X server.)

I've got these errors :

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2016 6:32 pm Post subject:

lowley,

A few things ...

/proc/config.gz is the configuration of the kernel that is actually running.
The whole /proc filesystem shows internal kernel data structures from the running kernel.

The kernel in the pastebin does indeed have # CONFIG_FB_RADEON is not set.
That means that you are not using the kernel that is derived fron that .config file.
The output of

lowley · n00b Joined: 22 Jul 2016 Posts: 47

hello NeddySeagoon

I see I've got to learn a lot of things!

For the moment, my goal is to master a little the gentoo install process, in order to being able to install it rather rapidly.
next, I planned to see the USE variable.

thank you for helping me!

I am disappointed : I followed the tuto at https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Kernel/Rebuild, but after the reboot, "uname -v" gives me the date of 2 days ago... do you know where does the problem come from?

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2016 8:04 pm Post subject:

lowley,

Normally, the error comes from not mounting /boot before you installed the kernel to boot.
Another cause is not updating grub to use the new kernel.

You have three places called boot on your system. They often appear to be the same and the naming is used interchangeably, which makes it harder to understand.
There is the /boot directory on the root filesystem
There is the boot partition (no leading /), it refers to an area on your HDD.
There is the filesystem on the boot partition (no leading /) of your HDD. This is often referred to as boot or /boot but really its not. However, it is mounted at /boot when you want to write to it.

Keep those things in mind. Now a little of the boot process.
Grub reads the kernel into memory and passes control to it. Grub cannot use the kernels filesystem tree to lead the kernel as it does net yet exist. The kernel is not even in memory
Instead, grub makes its own arrangements to read the filesystem on the boot partition of your HDD. That's important too.

When the filesystem on the boot partition is not mounted an the /boot directory on the root filesystem, anything written to /boot goes onto the root partition.
Its not an error, the write will succeed. Grub will not find a kernel installed here.
When the filesystem on the boot partition is mounted on /boot and you install a kernel, it goes to the boot partition where grub can find it.

Normally, Gentoo does not automatically mount the filesystem on the boot partition at /boot. You need to do it yourself.
Everyone forgets once in a while, so

lowley · n00b Joined: 22 Jul 2016 Posts: 47

well, I understand, but every time I follow the kernel tutorial, I use the statement "mount /boot". I retried just a few seconds ago and the "uname -v" statement gives a date 2 days ago.
this is not a calendar error of my computer, the statement "date" gives me the date of today.

here is some potential interesting stuff:

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2016 9:05 pm Post subject:

lowley,

That shows that boot was always correctly mounted. That's good.

lowley · n00b Joined: 22 Jul 2016 Posts: 47

ok, here are the results:

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2016 9:44 pm Post subject:

lowley,

You have 3 kernel files there.

lowley · n00b Joined: 22 Jul 2016 Posts: 47

Is initrd really always needed?

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2016 10:18 pm Post subject:

lowley,

No, an initrd is not always needed. To boot without one, everything needed to boot must be configured in the kernel as <*>.
The initrd provides a way to load modules before root is mounted.
It also offers a home for userspace programs needed to mount root.

You cannot use root=UUID= ... in grub either, as working with UUID, requires the userspace mount command.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

lowley · n00b Joined: 22 Jul 2016 Posts: 47

I would rather keep initramfs.

I don't know what to do

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2016 10:40 am Post subject:

lowley,

genkernel can help.

I've never used it, so my knowledge is limited.
It can 'automatically' build your kernel and initrd.
It can 'automatically' build your kernel and initrd allowing you some manual configuration changes in the process.
genkernel can build your kernel and initrd using a .config file you give it.
genkernel can just build your initrd.

As far as I'm aware, genkernel is the only tool that does both kernel and initrd. There are other tools that will build your initrd only.
You can also do it all yourself.

Learning the kernel setup is something you can sidestep for a long time by using genkernel. Indeed, there is no need to learn it at all as long as you know how to make genkernel work for you.

Personally, I hate automatic things involved in the boot process, so I make both the kernel and initrd by hand.
To make that easy, there are no kernel modules in the initrd, so it is good for the life of the install. It was made in 2009.
The kernel contains all the options it needs to boot as built in.

Right now, go with genkernel doing everything, allowing you some manual configuration changes.
When you have something that works, save the .config and learn how to use that with genkernel in the future.

Start a new thread if you need detailed help with genkernel.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

lowley · n00b Joined: 22 Jul 2016 Posts: 47

ok, with genkernel is works.
thank you.