compile a new kernel in RHEL 5

UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users
1

Hi all,

I need some help in compiling a new kernel. I am using RHEL 5 with kernel version 2.6.18.

I have downloaded a kernel from link

http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/linux-2.6.20.6.tar.bz2

1. cd /usr/src
2. wget -c http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/linux-2.6.20.tar.bz2
3. tar xvfj linux-2.6.20.tar.bz2
4. cd linux-2.6.20
5. make clean && make mrproper
6. make menuconfig
7  make clean
8. make bzImage
9. make modules
10. make modules_install
11. mkinitrd /boot/initrd-2.6.20.img 2.6.20

I am following this article

http://www.digitalhermit.com/linux/Kernel-Build-HOWTO.html#CONFIGURATION-2-6

I have completed these steps (till 10) with no errors, BUT when I am trying the 11 th step, no new kernel img file is found.
It only has the old file i.e initrd-2.6.18.img.

Also, few parameters in the make menuconfig are bit confusing, it would be really great if someone has any ebook regarding the parameters.

Pls help !!

Thanks in Adv.
Vikas

2

mkinitrd creates new initrd file which you have to keep inside /boot directory.
Which will be use by kernel while booting.

"file not found" indicates file created by mkinitrd is not present in /boot directory.