Linux kernel in a nutshell

1. config kernel
make config
make defconfig

 

2. config kernel by graphical mode
make menuconfig
make gconfig
make xconfig

 

3. update kernel
make oldconfig
make silentoldconfig

 

4.backup .config file
$cd ~linux/linux-2.6.17.11
$cp .config ../good_config

 

5.general process
$make menuconfig
$make
$su - root
#make modules_install
#make install

 

6.update kernel source code
2.6.17 is base kernel, 2.6.17.1 is stable kernel, 2.6.18-rc1 is development kernel;
stabe kernel patches apply to the base kernel version, for example, patch-2.6.17.10.bz2 -> 2.6.17;
base kernel release patches only apply to the previous base kernel, for example, patch-2.6.18.bz2 -> 2.6.17;
incremental patches upgrade from a specific release to the next release, for example, patch-2.6.17-18.bz2 -> 2.6.17.