Arch Linux

slughappy1

Member

Registered: 2009-03-20

Posts: 75

About compiling a kernel with ABS

So I was following the guide on the wiki about compiling a new kernel with ABS. I wanted to try and make a kernel that didn't need to use initramfs. I thought I could do it by not enabling the kernel to have the ability to use initramfs, and I think I also added the right modules to be built into it not have them be modules ( any idea if I can make sure I chose the correct drivers). After I was done I needed to install in using pacman -U. It told me it conflicted with kernel26 or something, and it asked if I wanted to replace it. Do I want to replace the current with the new? Or can I have them side by side? I know I can have multiple kernels, so it confused me a little.

ewaller

Administrator

From: Pasadena, CA

Registered: 2009-07-13

Posts: 20,354

Re: About compiling a kernel with ABS

I am a Gentoo refugee, so this might not be the arch way.

After building the kernel, I copy the kernel to the boot directory, add it to /boot/grub/menu.lst and have it available side-by-side the stock kernel.

IIRC, the kernel is at ./arch/x86_64/boot/bzImage off of the kernel build directory.  I am working from memory, so that path may not be correct -- but you'll find it.

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jjacky

Member

Registered: 2011-11-09

Posts: 347

Website

Re: About compiling a kernel with ABS

Still new with all this, but I'm pretty sure you don't want to replace your current kernel, or you could mess your system up should your newly compiled kernel not work.

When you created your PKGBUILD did you by any chance forget to change its name? You should have something like "pkgname=linux-custom" (there's more to change, check the wiki for the full list) instead, so that your new kernel will be called "linux-custom" (or whatever you call it), and it can be installed alongside the (Arch) official "linux"
After that, you can put both in your bootloader, and boot the one you want. But yeah I think you definitely want to keep the official kernel alongside yours, just in case.

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matse

Member

Registered: 2011-04-27

Posts: 299

Re: About compiling a kernel with ABS

Don't forget to remove stuff like

  provides=('kernel26')
  conflicts=('kernel26')
  replaces=('kernel26')

from your own PKGBUILD, otherwise pacman wants to remove the default kernel package even if you give it another name.