Which Linux distribution should I use?

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

Well, that kernel compile failed. Something about not being able to sync vfs and root being on an unknown block.

I assume you're trying to compile a custom kernel now? If you used the Ubuntu config as a base they enable everything possible as a module so you need an initramfs to boot. You _should_ just have to do 'update-initramfs -c -k <version>' to create the image and 'update-initramfs -u -k <version>' to update it if you recompile again.

Also don't forget to run 'update-grub' so that the initrd line gets added for that kernel.

It seemed like using dpkg to install the make-kpkg output did all of that (or at least most of it) for me.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: xtknight

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Well, that kernel compile failed. Something about not being able to sync vfs and root being on an unknown block.

How did you go about compiling it?

Did you copy the config, change the needed definition, and use the Debian kernel building system? It works flawlessly for me every time.

The guide here is good, but you'll need to skip the first few steps since you don't want a newer kernel, you just want to modify the current one. http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=311158

I would first make sure you have your kernel headers:

$ sudo apt-get install linux-headers-`uname -r`

Then follow step 1 in the guide, modify the kernel source as you need, and then carry on from step 6.

I installed linux-source, why would I need linux-headers?

I don't care if I get a new kernel or not, I just want a working one.
I don't want a guide, I want a working distro that won't take me long to download and install. I should have been in bed HOURS ago.

 

[Nothinman]

It seemed like using dpkg to install the make-kpkg output did all of that (or at least most of it) for me.

It should have if you told it that your kernel requires one with the --initrd switch I believe, but I always forget that and end up creating my own with update-initramfs after the fact anyway.

I don't want a guide, I want a working distro that won't take me long to download and install. I should have been in bed HOURS ago.

Good luck, if the Ubuntu kernel doesn't work out of the box then I really doubt you'll find a distro with a kernel that does because the kernels just don't differ that much between them any more and there's not a lot of work going into the prism/hostap stuff AFAIK since those chipsets aren't being produced any more.

 

[xtknight]

linux-source just contains a gunzip archive. http://packages.ubuntu.com/cgi-bin/sear...ux-source-2.6.17&version=edgy&arch=all

linux-headers is the extracted archive with the current config and everything: http://packages.ubuntu.com/cgi-bin/sear...aders-2.6.17-10&version=edgy&arch=i386

 

[n0cmonkey]

I untarred the archive and copied over the config. Still broke.

Seems silly to label them so poorly.

Anyhow, I need sleep. I'll give this another shot tomorrow. Thanks for all the help so far, and sorry about the Linux whining. I know, it's open source and I could fix it myself, but I've been spoiled. 🙂

 

[xtknight]

Well if you just wish to compile your kernel in a reliable and working way:

(replace source in /usr/source with s.r.c (no dots) since Fusetalk censors it for no reason)

$ cd ~
$ sudo -s -H
# dpkg --purge linux-source-`uname -r`
# dpkg --purge linux-headers-`uname -r`
# rm -rf /usr/source/*
# mkdir /usr/source
# apt-get install linux-headers-`uname -r`
# exit

...commence with guide above.

That should do it.

 

[n0cmonkey]

I don't think recompiling the kernel will help. It looks like everything I need should be working, but as drag mentioned above I'd have to do a lot of work.

I'm rethinking the whole idea. There are a couple of alternatives I could try, unfortunately they all require me to spend money.

But then again, I was kind of wanting a copy of Windows...