== How do I compile a kernel? ==
	
(These instructions assume we are installing version 2.6.0 of the kernel, replace all instances with the version you are trying to build. These instructions are also x86-specific; other architecture's build procedures may differ.)

    * Download your tarball from the index page at http://kernel.org , which links to the latest versions. If you are using FTP, go to ftp.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/[version] -- these subdirectories all contain an empty file named LATEST_IS_[version] to help you find the latest.  Kernel.org has almost-complete kernel archives back to version 0.99 if you're feeling really adventurous.  
    * Unpack the tarball in your home directory
{{{
         tar xivf linux-2.6.0.tar.bz2
}}}
      (Replace xivf with xzvf if you downloaded the .gz)
    * cd into the linux directory. You'll now need to configure the kernel to select the features you want/need. There are several ways to do this..

         a. make config
            Command line questions.
         a. make oldconfig
            (Useful only if you kept a .config from a previous kernel build.  With the newest kernels, the .config of the currently-running kernel is used by default if it's available, so you usually won't need this feature.)
         a. make menuconfig
            (ncurses based)
         a. make gconfig
            (GTK+ based X-Windows configuration)
         a. make xconfig
            (QT based X-Windows configuration)

    * Now we can build the kernel (for older kernel like 2.4.x first build the dependencies with "make dep").
{{{
         make
}}}

    * Wait. When its finished, it will have built both the kernel (bzImage) and the modules (for older kernels like 2.4.x, you need to run "make bzImage ; make modules").
    * Become root to be able to install modules and kernel. Everything before this point can and should be done as a normal user, there is really no need to be root to compile a kernel. It's actually a very bad idea to do everything as root because root is too powerful, one single mistake is enough to ruin your system completely.
    * Install the modules.
{{{
         make modules_install
}}}

    * Install the new kernel..
{{{
         make install 
}}}

If your distribution uses '''lilo''':

    * Edit /etc/lilo.conf, and add these lines...
{{{
         image = /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.0
         label = 2.6.0
}}}
      Also copy your root=/dev/??? line here too.

    * Run /sbin/lilo, reboot, and enjoy. 

If your distribution uses '''grub''':
    * Edit /boot/grub/grub.conf:
{{{
          title=Linux 2.6.0
          root (hd0,1) ''#or whatever your current root is ''
          kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.26 root=/dev/hda1 ''# or whatever ''
}}}

If you get modversion problems (symbols ending in _Rxxxxxxxx), have a look at [http://www.tux.org/lkml/#s8-8 this question] in the linux-kernel mailing list FAQ to solve the problem. 

Still not getting it? Try this [http://www.digitalhermit.com/linux/Kernel-Build-HOWTO.html more indepth tutorial]

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["CategoryFAQ"]