INSTALLING A KERNEL-SOURCE


Imagine you want to compile drivers for your Nvidia Card, so you need the source for the kernel you are running . . . . and the distro does not provide the source for that kernel on their mirrors . . . . what can you do ??

Well, for example if "uname -r" shows you "2.6.12.2" for the kernel you are running, go here: http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ and look for the "linux-2.6.12.2.tar.gz", then download it to "/usr/src/" and do:
( as root and after you cd to /usr/src )

( Note the | is a "pipe"-sign and not an L or an i . . . and do not forget the - at the end of the command )
This will make a /usr/src/linux-2.6.12.2 directory. ( NOTE: unpacked you will need about 190 MB free space )

Next step is to make a symlink so the compiler of the driver you want to install can find it:

Or if you already have a 2.6 or still the 2.4 source in /usr/src, you will have to change the symlink "linux" from that 2.4 source to the new one . . . so:

After that you are all set to download the Nvidia drivers and install them.




Bruno


-- Oct 11 2005 ( Revised Dec 11 2005 ) --