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I know that a lot of people recompile their kernel after they install a new system, or reinstall. I just installed Mandrake 8.0, and since I have never done it before I was wondering if I should give it a go? What will I gain from recompiling the kernel since everything in my system seems to work without a flaw? I have read quite a bit about the actual how of it but nothing I have found to read really says why except in the case where you need something added, like device support. So what say you wizened old gurus? Should I do it or not?
Pierre Lambion
04-27-2001, 11:06 AM
Don't. If everything is working, keep it that way and spend some time learning how to use your system. It will help you in the procedure of recompiling your kernel latter and will let you do better choices.
Pierre
Rastar
04-27-2001, 11:47 AM
I too have been running RH for a while and have never touched my kernel. Not directly at least. Can someone tell me (a step ahead of newbie) when the time has come to recompile a kernel? I tried to install under drake 7 the latest kernel 2.4 I think and it was a disaster. Well several reformats later and I had it back up but...
So needless to say I am very squimish when it comes to the kernel! :eek:
Tyr-7BE
04-27-2001, 05:21 PM
It can be very difficult at first, but once you get used to it it's a piece of cake. As for when the time comes to upgrade the kernel? When new things start not working with your old one! And that's a long way off. Example: Linux 2.2.x used ipchains as a firewall feature. Linux 2.4.x uses something else (can't quite remember what it is...haven't had time to play with it yet). It still can use ipchains for backwards compatibility, but its primary method for firewalling is this new thingy. Now if you download a firewall script that uses this new thingy, you won't be able to use it with your old ipchains kernel, and it will be time to upgrade. However, most people can go for quite some time without upgrading their kernel. Linux 2.2.x is still widely used and many people see no need to upgrade. All that you get with 2.4.x is a few new features. It's up to you whether or not you upgrade. I do recommend learning how to upgrade, as you'll probably have to do it sooner or later. Once you've done it once it's a piece of cake :)
foo_bar
04-29-2001, 03:46 PM
Just FYI, NetFilter is the "ipchains" of 2.4.
I agree though, don't recompile if everything's working okay and you're still learning.