Thanks Jim. I have a need, but if it won't work, it won't work. I may switch distribs if CentOS kernel is inextricably intertwined with the rest of the bits. FWIW I don't need/want selinux and can get by without nptl if it proves troublesome. The kernel also has way too much stuff in it that I don't need, etc., etc. The link you mention is broken. Dunno what gentoo's about so no comment there. On 12/11/05, Jim Perrin <jperrin at gmail.com> wrote: > On 12/11/05, Richard Hubbell <richard.hubbell at gmail.com> wrote: > > Hello all, > > > > Grabbed a new kernel (from kernel.org) to build a custom kernel > > but it won't boot. I followed the directions at redhat to setup a box without > > initrd (which I don't want and don't need to use). But the system hangs. > > Has anyone built a custom kernel without using initrd? I'm using CentOS 4.2. > > It hangs at or after "Freeing unused memory" > > > > Thanks. > > > > excerpt from the page: > > (http://fedora.redhat.com/docs/udev/) > > > > Udev without initrd > > > > Install Fedore Core as usual and reboot. Execute the following commands > > > > > > mkdir /tmp/dev > > mount --move /dev /tmp/dev > > sbin/MAKEDEV null console zero > > mount --move /tmp/dev /dev > > > > Install your kernel without an initrd. Reboot. > > > > You will get some SELinux errors, and syslogd will not work as expected. > > > Why is it that you feel the need to rebuild the kernel? > > The centos/rhel system is built atop a very heavily patched kernel. If > you build from straight vanilla source from kernel.org, expect > breakage. There are things like selinux, nptl, etc that will break for > you, and may or may not cause apps to fail or behave erratically, the > system to hang (seems like you found that one already) etc. > > basically, if you need to rebuild the kernel, you should do so from > within the most recent kernel source rpm. Anything else is going to > cause issues, and you're likely to be on your own for help. > > All that negativity aside, there's a tutorial on how to rebuild > kernels via source rpm here: > crab-lab.zool.ohiou.edu/kevin/kernel-compilation-tutorial-en/ > > Please. centos isn't gentoo and I'd advice not treating it as such if > it's possible. If what you need isn't in the stock kernel, then look > to the centosplus kernel. If it's not there, ask on the mailing list > or on irc. Others may need what you're after if you have a valid > reason. > > > -- > Jim Perrin > System Architect - UIT > Ft Gordon & US Army Signal Center > _______________________________________________ > CentOS mailing list > CentOS at centos.org > http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos >