Howto Compile a real-time Linux kernel 2.6.23-rc8-rt1

[mzilikazi]

This should work for any distro really. The exact method you use to build your kernel may differ but creating the realtime kernel source is the same no matter what your technique. You can build in /usr/src if you prefer but I just don't see any need to do that. I simply build in ~/KERNEL as user. Then you can link /usr/src/linux to your source if it is not found.

mkdir KERNEL
cd KERNEL
wget http://www.eu.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/linux-2.6.22.tar.bz2
wget http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/testing/patch-2.6.23-rc8.bz2
wget http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/projects/rt/patch-2.6.23-rc8-rt1.bz2
tar xjvf linux-2.6.22.tar.bz2
cd linux-2.6.22
bzcat ../patch-2.6.23-rc8.bz2|patch -p1
bzcat ../patch-2.6.23-rc8-rt1.bz2|patch -p1
cd ..
mv linux-2.6.22 linux-2.6.23-rc8-rt1
cd linux-2.6.23-rc8-rt1
make menuconfig

OR if you just want to start with the same config from your current kernel

make oldconfig

Realtime preemption should be automatically checked.

Processor type and features> Preemption Mode (Complete Preemption (Real-Time))

Also you should set kernel timer frequency to 1000HZ.

Processor type and features>Timer frequency (1000 HZ)

su
make modules_install
cp arch/i386/boot/bzImage /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.23-rc8-rt1

Now of course you should update your bootloader by adding an entry for your new kernel. Then run

lilo

Or if you use GRUB it *should* be updated automatically.

[Dapper Dan]

Thanks mzilikazi for the "how-to!" And welcome to the forums!

[mzilikazi]

Hey thanks.
I had intended to put it in the Linux Tutorials, HOWTO's & Reference Material forum but I do not see a 'New Thread' button anywhere. Presumably this is to keep the quality of howto's 'up to snuff'. Is there a formal procedure in place for adding to that forum?