Arch Linux

Twindruff

Member

Registered: 2008-04-03

Posts: 8

Build and run an older kernel

Hello,
I'm currently writing a kernel module for computers running on a old version of the kernel : 2.6.9.
I use myself a 2.6.22-ARCH kernel but I'm developping on my own computer, so for compatibility (and testing purpose) I need to install the older version of the kernel.

I downloaded the 2.6.9 kernel from kernel.org and I built it.
But on boot I get an error :

...
EXT3-fs: mounted filesystem with ordered data mode.
VFS: Mounted root (ext3 filesystem) readonly.
Freeing unused kernel memory: 196k freed
FATAL: kernel too old
Kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill init!

That is when it's ok with 2.6.22

and when I get the error with 2.6.9

Do you know how to solve this problem or another way to use a 2.6.9 kernel ?
Thanks.

Last edited by Twindruff (2008-04-03 13:32:53)

brebs

Member

Registered: 2007-04-03

Posts: 3,742

Re: Build and run an older kernel

I would check which minimum kernel version udev needs

Twindruff

Member

Registered: 2008-04-03

Posts: 8

Re: Build and run an older kernel

According to this page it should be ok no ?
And isn't the udev daemon launched by init after that ?

brebs

Member

Registered: 2007-04-03

Posts: 3,742

Re: Build and run an older kernel

See warning:

ewarn "${P} does not support Linux kernel before version 2.6.15!"
ewarn "If you want to use udev you need to update"
ewarn "to kernel >=2.6.15!"

brain0

Developer

From: Aachen - Germany

Registered: 2005-01-03

Posts: 1,382

Re: Build and run an older kernel

Hello,
I'm currently writing a kernel module for computers running on a old version of the kernel : 2.6.9.
I use myself a 2.6.22-ARCH kernel but I'm developping on my own computer, so for compatibility (and testing purpose) I need to install the older version of the kernel.

I downloaded the 2.6.9 kernel from kernel.org and I built it.
But on boot I get an error :

...
EXT3-fs: mounted filesystem with ordered data mode.
VFS: Mounted root (ext3 filesystem) readonly.
Freeing unused kernel memory: 196k freed
FATAL: kernel too old
Kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill init!

Arch needs at least Linux 2.6.16 to run, our glibc is incompatible with anything older.

Furthermore, many applications compiled with gcc 4.3 will fail with any unpatched kernel older than 2.6.24.4 (I have no idea if patches exist for older kernels). As many parts of Arch are already compiled with gcc 4.3, you will see random bugs, even with 2.6.22 or 2.6.23!

Last edited by brain0 (2008-04-03 18:17:03)

Twindruff

Member

Registered: 2008-04-03

Posts: 8

Re: Build and run an older kernel

Oh ok it's sad
Can you confirm me this is going to work if I do exactly the same but with a gentoo 2007.0 ?

Last edited by Twindruff (2008-04-03 19:43:45)