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7. Configuring the Kernel

• Timezone
• Installing the Sources
• Manual Configuration
• Installing Separate Kernel Modules

7.a. Timezone

You first need to select your timezone so that your system knows where it is located. Look for your timezone in /usr/share/zoneinfo, then make a symlink to /etc/localtime using ln:

# ls /usr/share/zoneinfo
(Suppose you want to use GMT)
# ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/GMT /etc/localtime

7.b. Installing the Sources

Choosing a Kernel

The core around which all distributions are built is the Linux kernel. It is the layer between the user programs and your system hardware. Gentoo provides its users several possible kernel sources. A full listing with description is available at the Gentoo Kernel Guide.

For sparc-based systems we have vanilla-sources (the default kernel source as developed by the linux-kernel developers) and sparc-sources (kernel source optimized for SPARC users).

Choose your kernel source and install it using emerge.

In the next example we install the vanilla-sources. Of course substitute with your choice of sources, this is merely an example:

# emerge vanilla-sources

When you take a look in /usr/src you should see a symlink called linux pointing to your kernel source:

# ls -l /usr/src/linux
lrwxrwxrwx    1 root     root           12 Oct 13 11:04 /usr/src/linux -> linux-2.4.26

If this isn't the case (i.e. the symlink points to a different kernel source) change the symlink before you continue:

# rm /usr/src/linux
# cd /usr/src
# ln -s linux-2.4.26 linux

Now it is time to configure and compile your kernel source.

7.c. Manual Configuration

Introduction

Manually configuring a kernel is often seen as the most difficult procedure a Linux user ever has to perform. Nothing is less true -- after configuring a couple of kernels you don't even remember that it was difficult ;)

However, one thing is true: you must know your system when you start configuring a kernel manually. Most information can be gathered by viewing the contents of /proc/pci (or by using lspci if available). You can also run lsmod to see what kernel modules the LiveCD uses (it might provide you with a nice hint on what to enable).

Now go to your kernel source directory and execute make menuconfig. This will fire up an ncurses-based configuration menu.

# cd /usr/src/linux
# make menuconfig

You will be greeted with several configuration sections. We'll first list some options you must activate (otherwise Gentoo will not function, or not function properly without additional tweaks).

Activating Required Options

First of all, activate the use of development and experimental code/drivers. You need this, otherwise some very important code/drivers won't show up:

Code maturity level options --->
  [*] Prompt for development and/or incomplete code/drivers

Now go to File Systems and select support for the filesystems you use. Don't compile them as modules, otherwise your Gentoo system will not be able to mount your partitions. Also select Virtual memory, /proc file system, /dev file system + Automatically mount at boot:

(With a 2.4.x kernel)
File systems --->
  [*] Virtual memory file system support (former shm fs)
  [*] /proc file system support
  [*] /dev file system support (EXPERIMENTAL)
  [*]   Automatically mount at boot
  [ ] /dev/pts file system for Unix98 PTYs

(With a 2.6.x kernel)
File systems --->
  Pseudo Filesystems --->
    [*] /proc file system support
    [*] /dev file system support (OBSOLETE)
    [*]   Automatically mount at boot
    [*] Virtual memory file system support (former shm fs)

(Select one or more of the following options as needed by your system)
  <*> Reiserfs support
  <*> Ext3 journalling file system support
  <*> JFS filesystem support
  <*> Second extended fs support
  <*> XFS filesystem support

If you are using PPPoE to connect to the Internet or you are using a dial-up modem, you will need the following options in the kernel:

(With a 2.4.x kernel)
Network device support --->
  <*> PPP (point-to-point protocol) support
  <*>   PPP support for async serial ports
  <*>   PPP support for sync tty ports

(With a 2.6.x kernel)
Device Drivers --->
  Networking support --->
    <*> PPP (point-to-point protocol) support
    <*>   PPP support for async serial ports
    <*>   PPP support for sync tty ports

The two compression options won't harm but are not definitely needed, neither does the PPP over Ethernet option, that might only be used by rp-pppoe when configured to do kernel mode PPPoE.

If you require it, don't forget to include support in the kernel for your ethernet card.

Now activate the correct bus-support:

Console drivers --->
  Frame-buffer support --->
    [*] SBUS and UPA framebuffers             
      [*] Creator/Creator3D support     (Only for UPA slot adapter used in many Ultras)
    [*] CGsix (GX,TurboGX) support      (Only for SBUS slot adapter used in many SPARCStations)

Of course you want support for the OBP:

Misc Linux/SPARC drivers --->
  [*]  /dev/openprom device support

You will also need SCSI-specific support:

SCSI support --->
  SCSI low-level drivers --->
    <*> Sparc ESP Scsi Driver             (Only for SPARC ESP on-board SCSI adapter)
    <*> PTI Qlogic, ISP Driver            (Only for SBUS SCSI controllers from PTI or QLogic)
    <*> SYM53C8XX Version 2 SCSI support  (Only for Ultra 60 on-board SCSI adapter)

To support your network card, select one of the following:

Network device support --->
  Ethernet (10 or 100Mbit) --->
    <*> Sun LANCE support                   (Only for SPARCStation, older Ultra systems, and as Sbus option)
    <*> Sun Happy Meal 10/100baseT support  (Only for Ultra; also supports "qfe" quad-ethernet on PCI and Sbus)

When you're done configuring your kernel, continue with Compiling and Installing. However, after having compiled the kernel, check its size:

# ls -lh vmlinux
-rw-r--r--    1 root     root         2.4M Oct 25 14:38 vmlinux

If the (uncompressed) size is bigger than 2.5 MB (for Sparc32) or 3.5 MB (for Sparc64), reconfigure your kernel until it doesn't exceed these limits. One way of accomplishing this is by having most kernel drivers compiled as modules. Ignoring this can lead to a non-booting kernel.

Also, if your kernel is just a tad too big, you can try stripping it using the strip command:

# strip -R .comment -R .note vmlinux

Compiling and Installing

Now that your kernel is configured, it is time to compile and install it. Exit the configuration and start the compilation process:

(For 2.4 kernel, sparc32)
# make dep && make clean vmlinux modules modules_install

(For 2.4 kernel, sparc64)
# make dep && make clean vmlinux image modules modules_install

(For 2.6 kernel, sparc32)
# make && make modules_install

(For 2.6 kernel, sparc64)
# make && make image modules_install

When the kernel has finished compiling, copy the kernel image to /boot.

(For 2.4 kernel, sparc32)
# cp vmlinux /boot/kernel-2.4.26

(For 2.4 kernel, sparc64)
# cp arch/sparc64/boot/image /boot/kernel-2.4.26

(For 2.6 kernel, sparc32)
# cp arch/sparc/boot/image /boot/kernel-2.6.5

(For 2.6 kernel, sparc64)
# cp arch/sparc64/boot/image /boot/kernel-2.6.5

(Don't forget to copy over the System.map file)
# cp System.map /boot

It is also wise to copy over your kernel configuration file to /boot, just in case :)

# cp .config /boot/config-2.4.26

Now continue with Installing Separate Kernel Modules.

7.d. Installing Separate Kernel Modules

Configuring the Modules

You should list the modules you want automatically loaded in /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.4 (or kernel-2.6). You can add extra options to the modules too if you want.

To view all available modules, run the following find command. Don't forget to substitute "<kernel version>" with the version of the kernel you just compiled:

# find /lib/modules/<kernel version>/ -type f -iname '*.o' -or -iname '*.ko'

For instance, to automatically load the 3c59x.o module, edit the kernel-2.4 or kernel-2.6 file and enter the module name in it.

(Example for 2.4 kernels)
# nano -w /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.4

3c59x

Now run modules-update to commit your changes to the /etc/modules.conf file:

# modules-update

Continue the installation with Configuring your System.

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