Can kernel V2.4.21 be installed to HD from V2003-07-24?

**Loper** · 07-24-2003, 01:46 PM

I see that one major new feature in the Knoppix V2003-07-24 release is the V2.4.21 kernel. Is there a straightforward way of using this release to upgrade the kernel in my HD-installed 06-06 release? Is it worth the effort? I was hoping that it would be easier than recompiling. This is one area of Linux that I know little about, though I'm learning fast...

Thanks!

**aay** · 07-24-2003, 04:07 PM

My gut feeling is "no", but maybe some other more knowledgable souls will chime in here.

**baldyeti** · 07-24-2003, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by Loper

Is there a straightforward way of using this release to upgrade the kernel in my HD-installed 06-06 release?

Here's one *untested* suggestiion, which I believe should work.
I don't have a working hd-installed knoppix myself to confirm, though.

Boot from the new CD, open a shell and become root (su -).
Mount (rw) your hd partition, say to /MYHD. Then rename those two directories:
# mv /MYHD/boot /MYHD/boot.org
# mv /MYHD/lib/modules /MYHD/lib/modules.org
Now replace them with the newer versions from the live CD:
# cp -a /KNOPPIX/boot /MYHD/boot
# cp -a /KNOPPIX/lib/modules /MYHD/lib/modules
# sync
# unmount /MYHD

Now reboot from HD, and you should enjoy the updated kernel.
If it fails, don't panic, you can restart the live CD, and
restore the two original directories that we have merely renamed.
Admittedly this is a tad crude, and won't transfer the newer boot
logic that may have been build into the startup scripts, but the
kernel switch at least should be painless.

Regards, and please let us know !-)

**bongski55** · 07-26-2003, 12:07 PM

Hi baldyeti,

I think your suggestion will not work. If it was this easy to update the kernel then everyone will do it but linux is not this easy

To use a new kernel one has to COMPILE it into the system.The kernel happens to be THE MAIN LINUX SYSTEM. So you cannot change it by just copying and pasting files.For one who is not using a hard disk installed linux this is not possible because your file system is READ-ONLY.

**baldyeti** · 07-26-2003, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by bongski55

I think your suggestion will not work.

Well if you don't try, then we'll never know !-) I just use the so-called poor man's
installation of knoppix. I have a SuSE installation though, which happily can boot
either a 2.2 or a 2.4 kernel, and have upgraded those kernels several times and
tweaked the lilo config accordingly.
Hence my suggestions. And remember it's all reversible!

Originally Posted by bongski55

To use a new kernel one has to COMPILE it into the system.The kernel happens to be THE MAIN LINUX SYSTEM. So you cannot change it by just copying and pasting files.For one who is not using a hard disk installed linux this is not possible because your file system is READ-ONLY.

No need to shout. You did not compile the kernel which your hd-installation
currently uses, did you? You mereley copied the stock kernel provided by knoppix.
I don't see why the newer kernel that comes with the newer CD's couldn't be
copied as well. You only need to compile a kernel if you want to tune it, statically
link some drivers or somesuch adjustment.
And you said you had an hd-install, so you should be able to mount your filesystem
in read-write mode, and perform the suggested renames and copies.

But it's your call, naturally.

Cheers.