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71.

Note that you'll find complete documentation on using <classname>kernel-package</classname> under <filename>/usr/share/doc/kernel-package</filename>. This section just contains a brief tutorial.

72.

Hereafter, we'll assume you have free rein over your machine and will extract your kernel source to somewhere in your home directory<footnote> <para> There are other locations where you can extract kernel sources and build your custom kernel, but this is easiest as it does not require special permissions. </para> </footnote>. We'll also assume that your kernel version is &kernelversion;. Make sure you are in the directory to where you want to unpack the kernel sources, extract them using <userinput>tar xjf /usr/src/linux-source-&kernelversion;.tar.bz2</userinput> and change to the directory <filename>linux-source-&kernelversion;</filename> that will have been created.

73.

Now, you can configure your kernel. Run <userinput>make xconfig</userinput> if X11 is installed, configured and being run; run <userinput>make menuconfig</userinput> otherwise (you'll need <classname>libncurses5-dev</classname> installed). Take the time to read the online help and choose carefully. When in doubt, it is typically better to include the device driver (the software which manages hardware peripherals, such as Ethernet cards, SCSI controllers, and so on) you are unsure about. Be careful: other options, not related to a specific hardware, should be left at the default value if you do not understand them. Do not forget to select <quote>Kernel module loader</quote> in <quote>Loadable module support</quote> (it is not selected by default). If not included, your Debian installation will experience problems.

74.

Clean the source tree and reset the <classname>kernel-package</classname> parameters. To do that, do <userinput>make-kpkg clean</userinput>.

75.

Now, compile the kernel: <userinput>fakeroot make-kpkg --initrd --revision=custom.1.0 kernel_image</userinput>. The version number of <quote>1.0</quote> can be changed at will; this is just a version number that you will use to track your kernel builds. Likewise, you can put any word you like in place of <quote>custom</quote> (e.g., a host name). Kernel compilation may take quite a while, depending on the power of your machine.

76.

Once the compilation is complete, you can install your custom kernel like any package. As root, do <userinput>dpkg -i ../linux-image-&kernelversion;-<replaceable>subarchitecture</replaceable>_custom.1.0_&architecture;.deb</userinput>. The <replaceable>subarchitecture</replaceable> part is an optional sub-architecture, <phrase arch="i386"> such as <quote>686</quote>, </phrase> depending on what kernel options you set. <userinput>dpkg -i</userinput> will install the kernel, along with some other nice supporting files. For instance, the <filename>System.map</filename> will be properly installed (helpful for debugging kernel problems), and <filename>/boot/config-&kernelversion;</filename> will be installed, containing your current configuration set. Your new kernel package is also clever enough to automatically update your boot loader to use the new kernel. If you have created a modules package, you'll need to install that package as well.

77.

It is time to reboot the system: read carefully any warning that the above step may have produced, then <userinput>shutdown -r now</userinput>.

78.

For more information on Debian kernels and kernel compilation, see the <ulink url="&url-kernel-handbook;">Debian Linux Kernel Handbook</ulink>. For more information on <classname>kernel-package</classname>, read the fine documentation in <filename>/usr/share/doc/kernel-package</filename>.

79.

Recovering a Broken System

80.

Sometimes, things go wrong, and the system you've carefully installed is no longer bootable. Perhaps the boot loader configuration broke while trying out a change, or perhaps a new kernel you installed won't boot, or perhaps cosmic rays hit your disk and flipped a bit in <filename>/sbin/init</filename>. Regardless of the cause, you'll need to have a system to work from while you fix it, and rescue mode can be useful for this.