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I have to install Linux kernel version 2.5.25.14 on a RHEL 5.4 server because of drive compatibility issues. I follow the RedHat "Building a Custom Kernel" instructions running the following: 

$ make mrproper
$ make xconfig
$ make clean
$ make bzImage
$ make modules
$ make modules_install
$ make install

But I get a bunch of warnings like this:

WARNING: No module ehci-hcd found for kernel 2.6.25.24, continuing anyway

When I try to boot this kernel it is unable to mount the hard drive, and kernel panics on startup. As far as I can tell I'm using a standard configuration (I just accept the defaults and save a .config file). Is there something I'm missing? Thanks.

aaron
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1 Answers1

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When you say you just accept the defaults and save a .config file, you mean the defaults of the vanilla kernel from kernel.org ? In that case, I would suggest to copy the Red Hat customized config file from /boot, e.g. /boot/config-2.6.18-194.el5PAE to /usr/src/linux right after running make mrproper. Run make oldconfig afterwards and pay attention to the choices, read the help for the options and only if you are unsure, accept the default.

make oldconfig will create a new .config file for you, based on a .config from an older kernel, that is compatible with the tree that you are building. It drops options that don't exist in the new kernel, accepts choices for options that exist and are present in the old file, and asks for your choice for options that appeared after the old kernel.

Prof. Moriarty
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