Arch Linux

tony5429

Member

Registered: 2006-03-28

Posts: 1,017

How to Update the Kernel Configuration

If I edit /usr/src/linux-2.6.27-ARCH/.config, have I truly edited the kernel configuration? Or do I have to rebuild/recompile the kernel afterwards or something?

peart

Member

From: Kanuckistan

Registered: 2003-07-28

Posts: 510

Re: How to Update the Kernel Configuration

You would have to rebuild the kernel afterwards.  The wiki has a guide, if you're interested.

tony5429

Member

Registered: 2006-03-28

Posts: 1,017

Re: How to Update the Kernel Configuration

Hrm... This seems overly complicated. On netbsd, after editing the kernel config file, the root user simply executes /usr/src/build.sh and reboots to make the changes go into effect (http://man.chinaunix.net/bsd/www.netbsd … ernel.html). Is there a shell script out there for linux which can rebuild the kernel with a new config file just as easily?

tomk

Forum Fellow

From: Ireland

Registered: 2004-07-21

Posts: 9,839

Re: How to Update the Kernel Configuration

The referenced wiki page is about creating a new kernel package, which will be managed by pacman, like all your other packages. The alternative is to use the "classic" method of building kernels i.e. get the kernel source, edit your config, run the relevant make commands, install the files where they need to go. This is, of course, completely scriptable, and if you search, you'll probably find something along those lines.

It's up to you whether you are happy not have your kernel packaged and under pacman's control.

szymon_g

Member

Registered: 2008-11-24

Posts: 36

Re: How to Update the Kernel Configuration

@tony5429
you reconfig your kernel (i.e.- change it without compilation) by command sysctl (for example- you can change swapiness)

tony5429

Member

Registered: 2006-03-28

Posts: 1,017

Re: How to Update the Kernel Configuration

Awesome, thanks! Do you know how I could go about turning off each of the CONFIG_DRM options in the kernel using sysctl? Thanks!

tony5429

Member

Registered: 2006-03-28

Posts: 1,017

Re: How to Update the Kernel Configuration

Hrm... As root, I issued "sysctl -a > file.txt" and looked through file.txt for config_drm but did not see it. Does that mean it is an option which cannot be changed without recompilation of the kernel?

tomk

Forum Fellow

From: Ireland

Registered: 2004-07-21

Posts: 9,839

Re: How to Update the Kernel Configuration

Yes. As man sysctl says, it's a tool for configuring kernel parameters. Removing kernel functionality, as you wish to do, requires a rebuild.

tony5429

Member

Registered: 2006-03-28

Posts: 1,017

Re: How to Update the Kernel Configuration

Ah, okay. Thanks.

broch

Banned

From: L.A. California

Registered: 2006-11-13

Posts: 975

Re: How to Update the Kernel Configuration

@tony5429
you reconfig your kernel (i.e.- change it without compilation) by command sysctl (for example- you can change swapiness)

that is not really true:
it only allows to change parameters that concerns existing kernel, has nothing to do with building custom kernel.
now a lot of these is really cryptic so setting sysctl (stable changes through /etc/sysct.conf or modifications will be gone after reboot) is actually more difficult that is seems.

swappiness paramater only proves my point:
this is a parameter that you can change VM behavior but it has nothing to do with compiling kernel.

Last edited by broch (2008-11-25 17:33:05)