Today, continue on your path to RHCE certification. Learn about creating a new kernel the easy way, kernel sources, recompiling a kernel, and the cron and at systems. Take notes, because there's a test at the end. This comes from chapter five of Red Hat Certified Engineer Linux Study Guide (Exam RH302), fourth edition, by Michael Jang. (McGraw-Hill/Osborne, 2004, ISBN: 0-07-225365-7).
If properly configured, the Red Hat kernel that you install should automatically update your boot loader. But as a RHCT or RHCE, you need to know how to check. If the code described in this chapter has not been added, you’ll need to know how.
Whether you’re using GRUB or LILO, it is advisable to keep your old kernel in case something goes wrong. So you’ll be adding a stanza to either /etc/grub.conf or /etc/lilo.conf. In either case, the changes that you’ll make will be as if you’re setting up two different operating systems.
Updating GRUB
Look at your /etc/grub.conf file. If you have Linux on your system and use GRUB, you should already have a stanza that points to the appropriate locations for your original Linux kernel and Initial RAM disk. For example, here is an excerpt from my RHEL 3 /etc/grub.conf file (which includes a dual-boot configuration with Microsoft Windows):
title Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES (2.4.21-4.EL) root (hd0,0) kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.21-4.EL ro root=LABEL=/ initrd /initrd-2.4.21-4.EL.img title DOS rootnoverify (hd0,1) chainloader +1
In Red Hat Enterprise Linux, the vmlinuz and initrd files are already in the /boot directory. Since you’ve copied the revised kernels to the same directory, all you need is a second stanza that points to your revised files. When I revised my kernel earlier in this chapter, my EXTRAVERSION variable in /usr/src/linux-2.4/Makefile was -4.ELcustom. The changes are in bold:
title Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES (2.4.21-4.EL) root (hd0,0) kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.21-4.EL ro root=LABEL=/ initrd /initrd-2.4.21-4.EL.img title Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES (2.4.21-4.ELcustom) root (hd0,0) kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.21-4.ELcustom ro root=LABEL=/ initrd /initrd-2.4.21-4.ELcustom.img title DOS rootnoverify (hd0,1) chainloader +1
Since you don’t need to load /etc/grub.conf into the MBR, no further action is required. The resulting GRUB menu looks like Figure 5-10. Note how the original kernel is set as the default. If you’ve watched closely, you’ll note that in /etc/grub.conf, the value of default was changed from 0 to 1. If you want to set the default to the new kernel, change the value of default back to 0.
Figure 5-10GRUB menu with original and recompiled kernels
Updating LILO
Alternatively, if you’re using LILO as a boot loader, you’ll need to revise /etc/lilo.conf. Add a stanza that points to the new kernel. Take a look at the following excerpt from /etc/lilo.conf:
From this information, you can see that the original kernel is called vmlinuz-2.4.21-4.EL. Assume LILO resides on the MBR and controls the boot process. Now add another stanza for the new kernel.
Save this file, then run the lilo -v command. The output should resemble the following:
LILO version 21.4-4, Copyright (C) 1992-1998 Werner Almesberger 'lba32' extensions Copyright (C) 1999,2000 John Coffman
Reading boot sector from /dev/hda Merging with /boot/boot.b Mapping message file /boot/message Boot image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.21-4.EL Mapping RAM disk /boot/initrd-2.4.21-4.EL Added linux * Boot image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.21-4.ELcustom Added newLinux Backup copy of boot sector in /boot/boot.0300 Writing boot sector.
When you reboot, LILO will wait for you to enter a label, in this case, either linux or newLinux.
EXAM WATCH! Although there are references to both GRUB and LILO in the RHCT and RHCE exam curricula, Red Hat is focusing on GRUB and has “deprecated” LILO. Therefore, I believe you can expect to work with GRUB on the Red Hat exams.
Kernel Sources
One of the strengths of Linux is the ease with which you can customize your kernel to precisely meet your needs. But before you can start this process, you need the Linux kernel source code.
While references to recompiling the kernel have been removed from the Red Hat exam requirements, you may still need to find kernel modules and configuration files, which I cover in this section.
EXAM WATCH! Fortunately, the Red Hat exams no longer specify requirements to recompile the Linux kernel. Nevertheless, it is a very important skill for any Linux administrator.
This is part one from the fifth chapter of Red Hat Certified Engineer Linux Study Guide (Exam RH302), fourth edition, by Michael Jang. (McGraw-Hill/Osborne, 2004, ISBN: 0-07-225365-7). Check it out at your favorite bookstore today. Buy this book now.
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