Kernel Upgradation

cd /usr/src/
wget http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/linux-2.6.17.4.tar.gz
tar -zvxf linux-2.6.17.4.tar.gz
cd linux-2.6.17.4

cp /boot/config-2.6.9-22.ELsmp /usr/src/linux-2.6.17.4/.config
make clean
make mrproper
make oldconfig

(Note that oldconfig will only work within the same major version of the kernel. You cannot, for example, use a 2.4.x .config with the 2.6.x kernel)

keep hitting enter and take the defaults until you get to the CPU type. Select your CPU. Also in the SMP section select SMP if you have multiple CPUs. Oh, and select “(No Forced Preemption (server))” under that section. Everything else, just hit enter to take the defaults.

Then to compile and install:

make bzImage
make modules
make modules_install
make install

Then to configure your boot loader in case of disaster:

nano /boot/grub/grub.conf

..make sure it looks like this with default=1 and the new kernel (2.6.15.4) on top. Here we are keeping the old kernel as default. To set new kernel as default make default=0

file looks something like this :
—————————————————————————————–
default=1
timeout=5
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title CentOS (2.6.15.4)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.15.4 ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00
initrd /initrd-2.6.15.4.img
title CentOS (2.6.9-22.0.2.EL)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.0.2.EL ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00
initrd /initrd-2.6.9-22.0.2.EL.img
title CentOS_ServerCD (2.6.9-22.EL)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.9-22.EL ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00
initrd /initrd-2.6.9-22.EL.img
—————————————————————————————–

then configure grub to boot to the new kernel one time. This way if it panicks or you can’t get to the machine because the network service blows up, you can have the data center do a reboot and it will go  back to the last kernel. If it does boot ok and everything looks good, edit grub.conf again and change it to “default=0” and it will boot the new kernel by default after that.

grub
savedefault –default=0 –once
quit
—————–
For Lilo

lilo -D Kernel version

Reboot….. fingers crossed …Good Luck

I have compiled kernel 2.6.22.2 on your server. Please reboot the server to switch to the new kernel. If your server does not bootup with the new kernel then reboot the server again and it will bootup with the old kernel.
If the server boots up with the new kernel let me know and I will set the new kernel as default.

 

---