How to Compile the Linux Kernel

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Download the latest version of the Linux kernel from http://www.kernel.org.

   An example of this would be
   3.4.4.1>>3.4.4.2 ,,, Use these commands. tar xjvf kernel (Here
   -j option is for bz2 compression) ,, There are 4 common ways to do this.
   
   Make old configuration
   -- asks you questions on what the kernel should support one by one, very time consuming.
   
   Make menuconfig
   -- creates a menu where you can browse options on what the kernel supports.
   
   Requires curses library, but that is likely already on your computer.
   
   Make qconfig/xconfig/gconfig
   -- same as menuconfig, except that now the configuration menu is graphics based."qconfig" Requires the QT library.
   
   Use configuration of current kernel.
   
   Run this from your kernel source folder "cp /boot/config-`uname
   -r` .config".
   
   This saves a lot of time, but you may want to change version number of the to be compiled kernel to avoid replacing your current kernel. "General setup"
   --> "Local version
   - append to kernel release".
   
   Example if the kernel version number is
   3.13.0, you can example write there
   3.13.0.RC1. , Further, you may customize the options like adding support for your specific type of device/controller/driver like you may add support for NTFS file system from "Filesystem >> DOS/FAT/NT/ >> select NTFS file system support, thereby taking full advantage of custom kernel. , If you want to use it then you may add further options, otherwise you may disable the option "kernel debugging"
   
   as it makes the kernel a lot heavier and and may be improper to use in the production environment. , You can run needed commands in one line by separating them with double ampersands (&&) as written below.
   
   This may take a long time. make && make modules_install && make install You may want to use
   -j option with make.
   
   This allows to fork additional processes for compiling kernel, syntax would be "make
   -j 3". 3 here represents the number of processes to be created. ,,,, Use the tool that came with your distro to configure your bootloader.
   
   Add a new entry for the new kernel. ,
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   Step 2: Be sure to download the full source by clicking on the "F" where it says "The latest stable version is..." otherwise you'll just download the patch

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   Step 3: which is used when your current kernel is a patch number lower.

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   Step 4: Make sure you have downloaded the complete source code

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   Step 5: and not a patch or change log.

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   Step 6: Once downloaded

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   Step 7: open a terminal.

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   Step 8: Now we need to extract the kernel.

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   Step 9: Once extracted

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    Step 10: move into the directory (in the terminal) that was created.

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    Step 11: Configure the kernel.

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    Step 12: Once the configuration window is opened

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    Step 13: you will see that a specific type of configuration is already selected like support for essential drivers like Broadcom wireless support/EXT4 filesystem etc.

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    Step 14: NOTE: While configuring the kernel

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    Step 15: you will see a section known as kernel hacking(by hacking we mean exploring into it)

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    Step 16: where different types of options are given for hacking into kernel and learning it.

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    Step 17: Once configured

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    Step 18: it is time to compile and install the kernel.

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    Step 19: So the kernel is installed

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    Step 20: but you need to make it bootable.

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    Step 21: Go to boot.

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    Step 22: Run this command "mkinitrd -o initrd.img-<kernelversion> <kernelversion>" (For Redhat based distros

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    Step 23: you need not create initrd

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    Step 24: as it is created by default) remembering to replace <kernelverison> with the version number of the kernel you build.

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    Step 25: Point the boot loader at the new kernel so it can be started.

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    Step 26: Reboot and enjoy your customized kernel!

Detailed Guide

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