Linux kernel in a nutshell

1. config kernel

make config

make defconfig

2. config kernel by graphical mode

make menuconfig

make gconfig

make xconfig

3. update kernel

make oldconfig

make silentoldconfig

4.backup .config file

$cd ~linux/linux-2.6.17.11

$cp .config ../good_config

5.general process

$make menuconfig

$make

$su - root

#make modules_install

#make install

6.update kernel source code

2.6.17 is base kernel, 2.6.17.1 is stable kernel, 2.6.18-rc1 is development kernel;

stabe kernel patches apply to the base kernel version, for example, patch-2.6.17.10.bz2 -> 2.6.17;

base kernel release patches only apply to the previous base kernel, for example, patch-2.6.18.bz2 -> 2.6.17;

incremental patches upgrade from a specific release to the next release, for example, patch-2.6.17-18.bz2 -> 2.6.17.