KernelNewbies:

Hooray! Thanks for your interest in working on the Linux kernel.

Warning: this is still a work in progress. We'll announce on the opw-kernel mailing list when this tutorial is finished. Please [https://live.gnome.org/OutreachProgramForWomen#Application_Process turn in your application] to express interest in the kernel project, and sign up for the [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/opw-kernel opw-kernel mailing list].

Intro

If you run into any issues with this tutorial, please ask questions on the #kernel-opw IRC channel on irc.oftc.net, or on the [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/opw-kernel opw-kernel mailing list].

This tutorial will cover how to get your first patch submitted. We would love it if accepted interns could test their kernel code on a computer running Linux, however, to get applicants started, this tutorial will describe how to set Linux up in a virtual machine.

You can run Linux from within Windows (or even run Linux on Linux!) from a virtual machine (VM). This tutorial will show you how to:

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Hardware Requirements

You need a system with virtualization (VT-d), at least 4GB of RAM, and 40GB of free hard drive space in order to run Linux in a VM.

Alternatives

If your system doesn't meet those requirements, you will need to be running Linux, or dual boot your machine so you can run both Linux and Windows. We strongly suggest you use the [http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/thank-you?distro=desktop&bits=64&release=lts Ubuntu 12.04 64-bit version]. If your machine doesn't have 64-bit support, you can use the [http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/thank-you?release=lts&bits=32&distro=desktop&status=zeroc 32-bit version]. Once you have Ubuntu installed, please follow the directions [:OPWfirstpatchAlt:here].

If you already have Linux working on a system, please follow the directions [:OPWfirstpatchAlt:here].

Install VMPlayer

Go to the [http://www.vmware.com/products/player/ VMPlayer website] and click the 'download' link. Download the VMPlayer that's appropriate for your operating system (e.g. Windows or Linux 64-bit), and install it.

Linux installation instructions

The [http://www.vmware.com/products/player/ VMPlayer download] comes as a .bundle file. That's a binary executable, that will launch a setup wizard.

First, change to the directory where you downloaded the VMPlayer binary by using the command cd.

Next, check to see if the file is executable. Run this command: 

ls -l

Then look at at the file's listing, and see if it has the executable ("x") bit set: 

$ ls -l
total 181056
-rw-rw-r-- 1 sarah sarah 185386101 Apr 26 22:19 VMware-Player-5.0.2-1031769.x86_64.bundle

If it doesn't show the executable bit, make the file executable by running: 

chmod a+x VMware-Player-5.0.2-1031769.x86_64.bundle

Then execute the binary by prefixing it with a ./ and running it as the root user with sudo: 

sudo ./VMware-Player-5.0.2-1031769.x86_64.bundle

Now run VMPlayer with the command: 

vmplayer

Download our Linux VM image

First, you'll need to install [http://www.7-zip.org/ 7zip]. The homepage has instructions for installing it under Windows. Under Ubuntu, you can install 7zip by running: 

sudo aptitude install p7zip

Next, download the VM image and uncompress it with 7zip.

Before you start the VM, you need to make some adjustments to the emulated hardware. FIXME talk about increasing the amount of RAM to at least 2GB, unless the maximum recommended amount of RAM is less than 2GB.

The password for the VM image is "LinuxRules!". If you want to change the password, you can do so with the `passwd` command.

Configure kernel drivers

Compile and install the kernel

Make a driver change

Test your changes

Create a patch

Submit a patch

TODO:

KernelNewbies: Outreachyfirstpatch (last edited 2013-05-02 20:17:07 by SarahSharp)