constant kernel recompilation tips

[legit]

Hey all,

I've realized that after setting up a gentoo system (or in my case a server) configuring everything else onto it generally requires updating the drivers installed into the kernel. I was wondering if it is ok to simply recompile the kernel and if it is how to do this easily from within the gentoo system already? thanks,
- legit

[macawgumbo]

simply make sure your kernel sources are up to date:

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# emerge -DuNa gentoo-sources

then follow this:

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# cd /usr/src/linux
make menuconfig

Here you get your menu to configure all your options. I am assuming you are following server guides and realizing you need to compile in different options as you set things up so you know what to do here.

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# make && make modules modules_install install
# mount /boot
# nano -w /boot/grub/grub.conf

Add an entry for the new kernel if the source was updated, if the source is the same as the running kernel, skip editing grub.

Reboot into the new kernel and enjoy!

[jseymour]

Well if you have several kernels on the system, you can switch the symlink via eselect. For instance the following:

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warpig jseymour # eselect kernel list
Available kernel symlink targets:
  [1]   linux-2.6.17-gentoo-r7 *
  [2]   linux-2.6.18-gentoo-r6
  [3]   linux-2.6.19-gentoo-r5

Now we just:

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warpig jseymour # eselect kernel set 3
warpig jseymour #   

Now recheck:

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warpig jseymour # eselect kernel list
Available kernel symlink targets:
  [1]   linux-2.6.17-gentoo-r7
  [2]   linux-2.6.18-gentoo-r6
  [3]   linux-2.6.19-gentoo-r5 *

Makes it very easy to configure and test kernels before committing it to default.