Re: How to tell what kernel is running?

From: Andy Fraser (andyfraser31_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 04/04/04 

Date: Sun, 04 Apr 2004 17:03:22 +0100

In alt.os.linux, Ook uttered these immortal words:

> Slackware. I downloaded the 2.6.4 source from www.kernel.org. Compiled it.
> copied bzImage to /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.4. Changed symbolic link vmlinuz to
> point to this file. Copied System.map to /boot/System.map-2.6.4. Changed
> symbolic link System.map to point to this file. I figured since the links
> were changed to point to the new files, I didn't need to do anything to
> boot loader config.

As Chris said, you haven't re-run lilo to update your system. LILO stores
the actual disk position of the kernel so until you re-run lilo it'll still
be pointing to your old kernel.

I don't mean to sound harsh here but had you read up on LILO first you
wouldn't have needed to ask a question here. Just assuming that doing
something will work is the quickest way to tie yourself in knots and give
yourself a headache.
 
> I just now got rid of the symbolic links, and replaced them with the
> actual 2.6.4 files. Reboot. It still comes up as 2.4.22. At this point I'm
> guessing that there is more to upgrading the kernel then replacing the
> vmlinuz and System.map files. I've read instructions on two different
> websites, and this is (more-or-less) what they say to do. The lilo.conf
> points to vmlinuz, btw. At this point I'm going to bed - tomorrow is
> another day, and maybe I can figure it out when I have more brain cells
> :-)

I have 2 stanzas in my lilo.conf. The old, known to work kernel is symlinked
to /vmlinuz.old and I refer to this in a stanza called "Rescue". The new
kernel is symlinked to /vmlinuz and is referred to by a stanza labelled
"Debian". Then I just change my symlinks when I upgrade and re-run lilo. If
the new kernel fails I can reboot my old kernel using Rescue.

I'm only mentioning this just in case your new kernel doesn't work. It's
happened to me in the past and having a quick and easy way to get back to a
working system is a plus. 

-- 
Andy.

Relevant Pages

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    (microsoft.public.development.device.drivers)
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