Configuring the kernel.

14 Configuring the kernel.

14.1 Why?

Not necessary with most modern UNIX systems, except when you:

• add or remove a type of hardware, or
  
• add/remove some subsystems (e.g., NFS, ISO9660, SLIP/PPP)
  

14.2 Basic Steps

• Make sure you understand the hardware on your system (e.g., disc/tape drives, network interface, mice)
  
• Create/edit the configuration file in the conf directory (usually /sys/conf or /usr/sys/conf).
  
• Run config in conf directory.
  
• Use make depend and make kernel-name to create the new kernel.
  
• Rename the old kernel and copy the new one into / to test it out. If it fails, reboot with the old kernel.
  

14.3 Examples of generating an Ultrix kernel

• Example configuration file
  
• Example of doconfig command output

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