KERNEL-PACKAGECONFIG(8) Debian GNU/Linux manual KERNEL-PACKAGECONFIG(8)NAME
kernel-packageconfig - internal handler of /etc/kernel-pkg.conf
SYNOPSIS
kernel-packageconfig
DESCRIPTION
The utility kernel-packageconfig is called internally by the kernel-package postinst script to set up the conf file /etc/kernel-pkg.conf.
It is idempotent, and only modifies the file if it contains factory default values. It is not meant for general use.
OPTIONS
This utility does not have any options.
FILES
The file affected by this program is /etc/kernel-pkg.conf.
SEE ALSO kernel-pkg.conf(5)AUTHOR
This manual page was written by Manoj Srivastava <srivasta@debian.org>, for the Debian GNU/Linux system.
Debian Jan 7 1997 KERNEL-PACKAGECONFIG(8)
Check Out this Related Man Page
KERNEL-PACKAGE(5) Debian GNU/Linux manual KERNEL-PACKAGE(5)NAME
kernel-package - system for creating kernel related packages
DESCRIPTION
The kernel-package package grew out of desire to automate the routine steps required to compile and install a custom kernel. If you are
looking for instructions on how to use kernel-package, please have a look at the manual make-kpkg(1). Configuring instructions are to be
found in kernel-pkg.conf(5).
Advantages of using kernel-package
i) Convenience.
I used to compile kernels manually, and it involved a series of steps to be taken in order; kernel-package was written to
take all the required steps (it has grown beyond that now, but essentially, that is what it does). This is especially impor-
tant to novices: make-kpkg takes all the steps required to compile a kernel, and installation of kernels is a snap.
ii) Multiple images support
It allows you to keep multiple version of kernel images on your machine with no fuss.
iii) Multiple Flavors of the same kernel version
It has a facility for you to keep multiple flavors of the same kernel version on your machine (you could have a stable 2.0.36
version, and a 2.0.36 version patched with the latest drivers, and not worry about contaminating the modules in /lib/mod-
ules).
iv) Built in defaults
It knows that some architectures do not have vmlinuz (using vmlinux instead), and other use zImage rather than bzImage, and
calls the appropriate target, and takes care of moving the correct file into place.
v) Module hooks
Several other kernel module packages are hooked into kernel-package, so one can seamlessly compile, say, pcmcia modules at
the same time as one compiles a kernel, and be assured that the modules so compiled are compatible.
vi) dpkg support
It enables you to use the package management system to keep track of the kernels created. Using make-kpkg creates a .deb
file, and dpkg can track it for you. This facilitates the task of other packages that depend on the kernel packages.
vii) Configuration tracking
It keeps track of the configuration file for each kernel image in /boot, which is part of the image package, and hence is the
kernel image and the configuration file are always together.
viii) Multiple config files
It allows you to specify a directory with config files, with separate config files for each sub-architecture (even allows for
different config files for i386, i486, etc). It is really neat for people who need to compile kernels for a variety of sub
architectures.
ix) Auxiliary kernel .deb packages
It allows to create a package with the headers, or the sources, also as a deb file, and enables the package management system
to keep track of those (and there are packages that depend on the package management system being aware of these packages).
x) Maintainer script services
Since the kernel image package is a full fledged Debian package, it comes with maintainer scripts, which allow the user to
add hook scripts to run when the package status changes.
xi) Sub architecture support
There is support for the multitudinous sub architectures that have blossomed under the umbrella of the m68k and power-PC
architectures.
xii) Portable kernel images
Allows one to compile a kernel for another computer, for example using a fast machine to compile the kernel for installation
on a slower machine. This is really nice since the modules are all included in the .deb; and one does not have to deal with
modules manually.
xiii) runtime hooks
The preinst, postinst, prerm and the postrm scripts allow the local admin on the installation machine to add a script into
runtime hooks; this can allow, amongst other things, grub users to add and remove kernel image stanzas from the grub menu
(example scripts to do this are in the package). There are directories under /etc/kernel where related packages may drop off
scripts that will be run by the maintainer scripts of the packages created by kernel package. Before running these scripts,
the environment variable KERNEL_PACKAGE_VERSION shall be set to the version of the kernel-package that created the package.
xiv) Append descriptive bits to the kernel version
One can append to the kernel version on the command line, or by setting an environment variable. So if your kernel is called
kernel-image-2.4.1John.Home; it is unlikely to be overridden by the official 2.4.1 kernel, since they are not the same ver-
sion.
Disadvantages of using make-kpkg
i) Automation.
This is a cookie cutter approach to compiling kernels, and there are people who like being close to the bare metal.
ii) Non traditional
This is not how it is done in the non-Debian world. This flouts tradition. (It has been pointed out, though, that this is fast
becoming Debian tradition).
iii) Needs superuser
It forces you to use fakeroot or sudo or super or be root to create a kernel image .deb file (this is not as bad as it used to be
before fakeroot).
FILES
/etc/kernel-pkg.conf
/etc/kernel-img.conf
SEE ALSO make(1), make-kpkg(1), The GNU Make manual
BUGS
There are no bugs. Any resemblance thereof is delirium. Really.
AUTHOR
This manual page was written by Manoj Srivastava <srivasta@debian.org>, for the Debian GNU/Linux system.
Debian May 25 1999 KERNEL-PACKAGE(5)