Confused with different kernel compilation and installation flows...

[Shantanu]

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Hello everyone,
I am new to kernel configuration, compilation and installation. I wanted to install linux-3.5.3 kernel for my Ubuntu 12.4. So I surfed internet and found various sites telling about the procedures. But there procedures were slightly different.
I was following instruction flow from the site :
haifux.org/lectures/88-sil/kernel-compilation.html

I downloaded kernel from kernel.org and executed following commands :

$ make mrproper
$ make menuconfig
$ make clean
$ make depend
$ make bzImage
$ make modules

everything went smooth till this part.... but I referred other site which was saying :
After this commands following files must be there under /boot
System.map-3.0.0
vmlinuz-3.0.0
initrd.img-3.0.0
config-3.0.0

Which were not there in my case
So I started looking for those files. I copied
$ cp arch/i386/boot/bzImage /boot/vmlinuz-3.5.3
But don't know what do do about others.......
then I tried,
$ mkinitrd /boot/initrd-3.5.3.img 3.5.3
mkinitrd: command not found

So, how shall I proceed further ? Is there any good tutorial/Doc to know about kernel compilation and installation ? After configuring and compiling my kernel it took around 5-6 GB space ? Am I went wrong somewhere ?
Please help me out !

[MikeTbob]

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Kernel/Compile

Always try the instructions for your distro. Each distro is different and they all have their own way of doing things. It makes maintenance a real chore sometimes.

[Shantanu]

Thanks for your reply !
I went on page suggested by you but they are saying like
"This page does NOT describe how to build upstream kernels from kernel.org. This is how to rebuild the actual Ubuntu kernel starting from source."
And the procedure given to build kernel looks quit foreign to me after surfing and viewing other kernel compilation guides.
Can't build the working kernel by following instructions on :

haifux.org/lectures/88-sil/kernel-compilation.html

[MikeTbob]

Thanks for your reply !
I went on page suggested by you but they are saying like
"This page does NOT describe how to build upstream kernels from kernel.org. This is how to rebuild the actual Ubuntu kernel starting from source."
And the procedure given to build kernel looks quit foreign to me after surfing and viewing other kernel compilation guides.
Can't build the working kernel by following instructions on :

haifux.org/lectures/88-sil/kernel-compilation.html

It might work for all I know. I was just trying to point out the difference betwen installing "Generic" and official Ubuntu kernels. I'm sure you could read through those links and spot the major differences.

[Shantanu]

Yes, it was really helpful. Because of that post I came to know that there are two type of kernel configuration methodologies.
I'll try to understand the reason behind major differences and would like to configure and compile kernel accordingly !