Using KernelCheck on Debian Lenny

KernelCheck compares your running kernel with the latest kernel from kernel.org, compares the latest kernel with that posted in the Master Kernel Thread, and (optionally) builds the latest kernel automatically.

Current Features:

• Fetch latest kernel information (mature kernel, mature kernel patch, stable development prepatch)
• Download and compile any 2.6 kernel into a .deb package
• Auto-fix for ALSA sound in new kernels
• Auto-optimize new kernel
• Option to configure kernel options manually
• Option to install the nVidia kernel module/driver on reboot
• Option to reconfigure the X server
• Custom kernel patching
• Multiple CPU jobs for faster compilation

KernelCheck is a python program. If you do not have python installed, open a terminal and execute the command: apt-get install python as root to install python.

To run KernelCheck on Debian Lenny:

1. Download the kernelcheck source from a Sourceforge mirror. The latest version at this time of writing is version 1.2.5
2. Open a terminal. Extract the source file by executing the command:
   tar -xvzf kernelcheck-1.2.5.tar.gz
3. Navigate to the source directory by executing the command:
   cd kernelcheck-1.2.5
4. Build the executable by executing the command:
   python setup.py build
5. Install the program by executing the command: python setup.py install as root.
6. Start the program by executing the command: kernelcheck as root.

Follow the GUI to have your shiny new kernel installed. The program checks for the latest kernel from kernel.org, builds it as a deb file and installs it.

If you select Typical Compilation as the kernel compile mode , the program automatically configures the kernel with recommended options. However, the program still opens a nice GUI to let you fine tune the options.

If you select, custom compilation as the kernel compile mode, the program displays an information screen with the following information:

• Running Kernel: Current running kernel on your machine
• Latest Kernel: Latest kernel from kernel.org
• Latest Kernel Patch: Latest patch for the latest kernel from kernel.org
• Latest Kernel Prepatch: Latest development prepatch for the latest kernel from kernel.org
• Latest MM Patch: Latest mm patch for the latest kernel from kernel.org
• Kernel Patch Release: Date of the kernel patch release
• Kernel Prepatch Release: Date of the kernel prepatch release

Click Forward. Select the desired patch to patch the kernel. The following are the patches.

• Normal Performance patch: Patches the kernel with performance patches from kernel.org
• Stable development prepatch: Patches the kernel with the latest stable prepatch from kernel.org
• Andrew Morton’s MM Patch: Patches the kernel with the latest MM patch if available
• Older stable kernel patch: Allows you to select any kernel from the 2.6 series to compile and install
• No patch: Compiles and installs a vanilla version of the stable kernel

Click Forward. Select the desired options from the following:

• Configure kernel options manually: Opens the xconfig dialog for the user to select options for the kernel
• Auto-configure ALSA options: Turns on HD sound for supported cards and activates ALSA
• Optimize the kernel: Performs various optimizations to the kernel configuration
• Install kernel package after compilation: Installs the kernel deb package after compilation
• Reconfigure the X Server: Executes dpkg-reconfigure-phigh xserver-xorg to reduce graphics problems
• Install nVidia driver: Executes the nVidia binary driver setup on reboot
• Apply custom patch to new kernel: Opens a terminal during the build process so the user can custom patch the kernel
• Clean up kernel source after build: Deletes /usr/src/linux and it’s source after build
• Number of jobs to send to the CPU: Set the number of compilation jobs to be sent to the CPU (usually number of physical CPUs + 1)

Click Forward. The program displays a confirmation screen with the selected options. Click Apply to start compiling and installing the new kernel.

Here is a screen shot of the program running on my system:

Here is my kernel version before KernelCheck installed the latest verison:

michael@debian:~$ uname -a
Linux debian 2.6.26-1-686-bigmem #1 SMP Fri Mar 13 18:52:29 UTC 2009 i686 GNU/Linux

Here is my kernel version after KernelCheck installed the latest version [and after reboot]:

michael@debian:~$ uname -a
Linux debian 2.6.30.5-candela #1 SMP Tue Aug 25 21:22:52 IST 2009 i686 GNU/Linux

***OPTIONAL*****

I cleaned up the old kernel and headers by executing the command:
apt-get remove --purge linux-headers-2.6.26-1-686-bigmem linux-headers-2.6.26-1-common linux-image-2.6.26-1-686 linux-image-2.6.26-1-686-bigmem as root.

Then, I removed the old header and module directories by executing the command:
rm -rf /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.26-1-686-bigmem/ && rm -rf /lib/modules/2.6.26-1-686-bigmem/ as root.

****OPTIONAL*****

Now you have the latest kernel installed and running.

Written by Michael R.M. David