Patching Debian Kernel

[Evil Jeff]

I just apt-got the reiserfs patch for the debian 2.2.17 kernel. How do I go about patching my kernel without having to recompile the entire kernel? It comes with a script called "apply" that keeps complaining that it's not in a top level directory, but I can't get it to work anywhere I put it. Any advice or, even better, exact instructions?

Evil Jeff
www.hellincorporated.com (http://www.hellincorporated.com)

[PLBlaze]

The reisersfs patch should be either a gzip/bz2 or a text file.To apply it,cd to /usr/src make sure to have symlink or dir called linux that's pointing to your kernel source...then simply do gzip -cd /path_to_patch/patch_name.gz | patch -p1 if patch is in gzip format (use bzip2 -dc for .bz2).

When patching regular file cd to your top level source dir eg. cd /usr/src/linux and issue patch -p1 < /path_to_patch/patch_name ...You'll see a bunch of characters fly on your screen,check to see if you get any of FAILED HUNKS this is very important because if you do that means patch was not sucessfull for few reasons...(that's for another time).

Once your source is patched,proceed with compiling kernel as usual.Take a look at kernel-compiling NHF.Hope this helps and happy patching http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif.

[Evil Jeff]

I can't seem to find where debian put the source from the original kernel install. It compiles it during the install, so I know it happened. Also, it doesn't put a linux symlink in my usr/src. I can make the symlink, but I don't know where the source is!

Evil Jeff
www.hellincorporated.com (http://www.hellincorporated.com)

[PLBlaze]

Can you post the output of ls -al in /usr/src? Don't know about debian but the kernel source should be in /usr/src/linux ...

[Evil Jeff]

From install, there is nothing in your usr/src directory. Only what you put in it.

Evil Jeff
www.hellincorporated.com (http://www.hellincorporated.com)