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confusedbuthopeful
03-10-2002, 01:04 AM
I have an older Kernel for SuSE, 2.4.4-7. So I thought I would update it. Went to a SuSE mirror site and downloaded several different kernels. The latest of which is 2.4.16-36. These kernels are in RPM format. OK so for a newbie this RPM stuff is GREAT. I thought I would use the package manager to install the new Kernel....no luck. Tried rpm -F kernel (as suggested by a not so newbie), no luck again. Tried three different kernel levels (not sure of the proper terminology on this) all of them fail. I get the message 'unpacking of archive failed. cpio. bad magic'. doesn't appear very magical at this point for sure.
Looked in the SuSE manual and they make no mention of using RPM's to update the kernel. Looked all over and I don't find anything where anyone else has this problem. No how-to's in the SuSE world that I can find even talk about generating a new SuSE kernel using RPM. As with much of Linux, 'it's a mystery'.

I installed the system from SuSE 7.2 CD's.
Compaq Presario athlon 1GHZ engine
Maxtor 40 GB HDD with ATA-100 promise card.
I am not using LILO or GRUB, just booting from a diskette. This booting from diskette in SuSE is not nearly as slick as RedHat...but that's another story.

As Always any help, successful or otherwise, is very much appreciated.

mdwatts
03-10-2002, 10:21 AM
Did you try rpm -ivh packagename.rpm?

Are you planning to compile the new kernel? If so, then just get the source from www.kernel.org (http://www.kernel.org)

confusedbuthopeful
03-12-2002, 12:18 AM
Thanks for responding.
No I did not try rpm -ivh but I will.
No I have not compiled a kernel. Scares the daylights outa me but sooner or later I guess I should do it. If I can't get a rpm to work it seems a bit presumptious to try compiling a kernel. Oh well if I don't destroy the whole thing I will get a very unrealistic sense of accomplishment.
Thanks Again.