Debian Kernel

dpkg --install *.deb


15.05.04
Compiled custom-kernel 2.4.26-aero.2
Kernel was slightly modified: Added PLIP-support (as module) and CONFIG_RTC=m for access to the real time clock and prevent messages like "Can't locate module char-major-10-135".

In the pcmcia-cs package I added a comment in "/etc/pcmcia/network.opts" that Debian networking is not configured there, but in "/etc/network/interfaces" and that one must uncomment the line "auto eth0" in that "interfaces"-file.


13.05.04
First release of my custom-kernel 2.4.26-aero
and the appropriate kernel- and pcmcia-files.

So after describing the difficult way of patching and installing a kernel that suits the aero and installing pcmcia: Now the explanation for debian users:

1.

Go to my debian directory and download all seven files to a new folder on the aero.

2.

Change to that folder and command

"dpkg --install *.deb"

3.

Installing kernel_image

There will be an "Unresolved symbols"-error of depmod for the three pcmcia-modules: 8390.o, fmvj18x_cs.o and smc91c92_cs.

This is because I used versioned symbol names in my kernel-configuration, which has some advantages for loading and unloading modules. So AFAIK that's no bug, it's a feature. ;-) In the install process, because of this "error" you will be prompted to abort installation. Don't do this - say "No" to that question.

You also will be asked if you want to install lilo: Don't do this. Say "No" if asked if dpkg should install a boot-block. Say "No" if it asks you if it should wipe out the old lilo.conf and if it should make a new one.

Configuring lilo

Instead, if you wish to use lilo: configure lilo per hand after the installation:

First change to the "/boot"-directory and point the symlinks "System.map" to "System.map-2.4.26-aero.2" and "vmlinuz" to "vmlinuz-2.4.26-aero.2". Change to "/" and do the same for the "vmlinuz"-symlink there.

Then edit /etc/lilo.conf and insert the line:

append="badram=0x010d0000,0xffff8000"

in the appropriate section of the newly installed kernel, so bad ram-addresses will be excluded.

So the section of the new kernel in "/etc/lilo.conf" will look something like this:

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.26-aero.2
    label=linux
    read-only
    append="badram=0x010d0000,0xffff8000"
    root=/dev/hda13

Don't forget to run lilo afterwards to save your changes to the master boot record.

If you don't use lilo, make sure to append these settings at the start of linux.

For instance with loadlin give a command like this (of course with the "root"-command according to your own partitions):

c:\loadlin\loadlin.exe c:\loadlin\vmlinuz root=30d badram=0x010d0000,0xffff8000



That's all. :-)

The custom-kernel will be called 2.4.26-aero.# while # is the my version number for updated custom-kernels. It is patched with badram and openwall. All settings were successfully used on an Compaq Contura Aero 4/25 with a debian stable (woody) system in May 2004. All files were compiled on the aero itself. See the description of these files below for more information.

Have fun!
Uli

Description of the debian kernel-files


config

Is the configuration file for my compiled custom kernel. Check this file to see if the kernel matches your needs. In effect the kernel should have most needed features - however you may download "kernel-source-2.4.26-aero_aero.1_all.deb" to rebuild the kernel the debian way.


kernel-doc

Installs the documentation files of the custom kernel - in difference to the original, there are docs about badram and openwall included.


kernel-headers

are the header files of my custom kernel, they may be required for the installation of some programs.


kernel-image

is a custom kernel I compiled for the aero. It is already patched with badram and the security patch openwall. Most features like support for nfs, smb, dos/fat-fs, ppp, isdn, wireless etc are already included. However some features may be missing, so read the config-file. As I will recompile the aero-kernel with next kernel versions, please feel free to send me your requests. ;-)


kernel-source

The kernel source (and the biggest file in this directory). If you install it, you get the source files of my patched kernel copied to /usr/src/linux-2.4.26-aero. So with that you can reconfigure and recompile the kernel without breaking anything.


pcmcia-modules

PCMCIA is not compiled into the kernel, because the external modules do a much better job. They are included in this package and were compiled against my custom kernel-source. I took the 3.2.5-2.6 version from backports.org because pcmcia-source of debian stable is only version 3.1.33 and pcmcia-cards are changing fast.


pcmcia-cs

Is the cardmanager software and configuration files for using pcmcia with the aero. They fit exactly to the pcmcia-modules. I already changed the files "/etc/pcmcia/pcmcia.opts" (to have the memory addresses specified, which work with the aero) and "/etc/init.d/pcmcia" (to delay the start of pcmcia-service a bit, so sysvinit wouldn't start other daemons before the initialisation of pcmcia is finished.




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