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Motosampy - Nov 19, 2006 - 10:39
Post subject: Howto update kernel files

How do I build the initrd file ? The packagemanager downloaded new kernel files and I found them in /boot (vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2849.fc6, System.map-, symvers-..., config...) but the initrd file must be build and I have not found good instructions for that.

- Sami

Fedora Core 6, PegII

gunne - Nov 19, 2006 - 15:50
Post subject: Re: Howto update kernel files

Hi Sami,

Did you only get source code when You updated ? No pre-compiled kernel-files ?

kozz - Nov 19, 2006 - 18:23
Post subject: Re: Howto update kernel files

Ehm, the vmlinuz file is obviously a binary file... or should be at least considering it's name. The tool usually used to generate initrd is mkinitramfs. Most distributions has scripts that uses that command with correct parameters etc and I'm sure Fedora has some also. But on Pegasos the vmlinuz kernel usually has both the kernel and the initrd in the same file. A Pegasos can't boot with the vmlinux/initrd combination found on Macintosh (as far as I have understood, have never used a Mac myself).

Doesn't the kernel you already have in /boot boot?

Motosampy - Nov 19, 2006 - 22:33
Post subject: Re: Howto update kernel files

@Gunne

I got precompiled kernel files, but not initrd.

@kozz

The current kernel does boot, but I'd like to learn more Linux and upgrade the system. The new kernel does not boot with the current initrd. I'll try mkinitramfs tonight.

gunne - Nov 19, 2006 - 22:53
Post subject: Re: Howto update kernel files

Sami,

So you can't boot the file vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2849.fc6 from the Pegasos firmware prompt ?

Motosampy - Nov 19, 2006 - 23:04
Post subject: Re: Howto update kernel files

I find mkinitrd (no mkinitramfs) command but it results "No modules available for kernel "2.6.18-1.2849".
Here's full listing of files in /boot:

[root@motosampy boot]# ls -al
yhteensä 12382
drwxr-xr-x 6 root root 1024 19. marras 01:13 .
drwxr-xr-x 23 root root 4096 20. marras 01:39 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 65563 16. loka 22:30 config-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 65478 10. marras 20:18 config-2.6.18-1.2849.fc6
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 1024 1. marras 02:54 etc
drwxr-xr-x 4 root root 1024 17. marras 13:47 grub
-rw------- 1 root root 2365027 1. marras 02:27 initrd-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6.img
drwx------ 2 root root 12288 1. marras 02:16 lost+found
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 93732 16. loka 22:31 symvers-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 93529 10. marras 20:18 symvers-2.6.18-1.2849.fc6.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 857098 16. loka 22:30 System.map-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 857767 10. marras 20:18 System.map-2.6.18-1.2849.fc6
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 4089528 16. loka 23:28 vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 4089528 10. marras 21:02 vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2849.fc6
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 1024 1. marras 02:54 yaboot

gunne - Nov 19, 2006 - 23:15
Post subject: Re: Howto update kernel files

How do you boot the system by now ?

Do you load the file vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6 from the Pegasos firmware prompt ?

I think it was about a year ago I booted Fedora on the Pegasos.

Motosampy - Nov 19, 2006 - 23:24
Post subject: Re: Howto update kernel files

I use grub menu (modified from your Ubuntu installation menu):

linux (hd0,0)/vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6 root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 video=radeon:1280x768@60 quiet splash
initrd (hd0,0)/initrd-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6.img

If I try to boot the -1.2849 kernel I just get Kernel panic with everything I've tried.

gunne - Nov 19, 2006 - 23:32
Post subject: Re: Howto update kernel files

Hmm, yes I remember it was some special way needed to boot Fedora. Will read about it tomorrow. Strange that You didn't get the initrd with the update.

kozz - Nov 20, 2006 - 16:57
Post subject: Re: Howto update kernel files

The modules are located in /lib/modules, see if the modules for your new kernel are located there... otherwise you probably miss some package for fedora with the modules.

Motosampy - Nov 20, 2006 - 19:15
Post subject: Re: Howto update kernel files

The missing file was received today by the package updater ! Will try to boot the new kernel.

gunne - Nov 20, 2006 - 21:02
Post subject: Re: Howto update kernel files

Sami,

Ok, some delay might have occured as it seems.

Here is a guide I found explaining how to compile a kernel - The Fedora way. LINK

Motosampy - Nov 21, 2006 - 05:43
Post subject: Re: Howto update kernel files

Thanks,
everything works now and I'll some day try to compile the kernel myself.