How to compile Linux kernel on Ubuntu?

Following are the steps to compile a kernel source code on ubuntu-

Steps:

1. Change to root : su

2. Update the package manager : apt-get update

3. Get new make utility : apt-get install build-essential

4. Optional - To create dep : apt-get install kernel-package libncurses5-dev fakeroot wget bzip2

5. Download linux source : cd /usr/src

wget http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/linux-2.6.18.1.tar.bz2

Download patches: v2.6/testing/patch-2.6.27-rc1.bz2

2.6.27-rc1-mm.bz2

6. Then we unpack the kernel sources and create a symlink linux to the kernel sources directory:

tar xvjf linux-2.6.18.1.tar.bz2

ln -s linux-2.6.18.1 linux

cd /usr/src/linux

7. Apply patches:

bzip2 -dc patch-2.6.27-rc1.bz2 | patch -p1 

bzip2 -dc 2.6.27-rc1-mm.bz2 | patch -p1 

8. Execute : make clean

make mrproper

9. Configure kernel:

Copy already existing config file:

cp /boot/config-`uname -r` ./.config

make menuconfig

Go to Load an Alternate config file. Enter .config and enter. Exit

10. Make kernel: make && make modules_ install && make install

Check if depmod is already not done.

If not done then type: depmod 2.6.27-rc1-mm

11. To use initrd then get yaird:

apt-get install yaird

12. Execute:

mkinitrd.yaird –o /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-rc1-mm1 2.6.27-rc1-mm1

If this doesn’t work then execute:

mkinitramfs –o /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-rc1-mm1 2.6.27-rc1-mm1

Update grub (/boot/grub/menu.lst): update-grub

Check the menu.lst file and see the entry of new kernel

13. Reboot