Tagged Questions

1
vote
1answer
31 views

compressed and uncompressed kernel on an embedded device

I have been using several different embedded boards that store kernel, init files, filesystem, etc. on partitions of a (micro)SD card. I notice in the example usage or instructions that compressed ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views

building/compiling kernel headers

I am compiling kernel 3.4 and 3.8 for different target devices. I would like to install compat wireless driver which requires kernel header. Could anyone tell me how I can compile/build the kernel ...
1
vote
3answers
53 views

What considerations need to be made when choosing the version of kernel for an embedded device?

I have used buildroot to successfully create a kernel, root file system and cross-compilers to enable me to write application code to run on an embedded device. Currently I have no need to write ...
0
votes
0answers
38 views

Decreasing mouse sensitivity at kernel level

I have developed a custom-GUI Server, which runs on virtual console of Linux.For mouse-handling purpose, it reads the mouse device file /dev/input/mice and retrieves the event data and updates ...
1
vote
2answers
46 views

Does linux modules/drivers belong to kernal space or user space

Some articles say that modules/drivers belong to kernel space as it take part in forming the kernel; (reference: http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/articles/drivers_linux) While others say that ...
1
vote
0answers
77 views

Unable to install the selected kernel

I have problem with my DVD drive. It's corrupted and when I'm trying to install Ubuntu it stucks (even with the miniISO) I was able to successfully start the OS from system rescue CD. I'd like to ...
2
votes
2answers
83 views

How is the kernel loaded?

I am trying to understand the Linux boot process, and after reading quite some amount of documentation there is one point that I still can't seem to understand. So the basicis is BIOS -> Grub MBR -> ...
2
votes
5answers
92 views

How to know what to enable in the kernel?

I'm a gentoo user. When compiling the kernel there are a lot of options which one may enable depending on one's hardware. My question is how to know what to enable/disable, I'm aware of the hardware ...
0
votes
2answers
124 views

Writing a Linux file system for NFS

I want to write my own custom file system in Linux. Can I share it over standard NFS without making any changes to the local NFS server? If so what VFS APIs are required to be implemented by my file ...
0
votes
2answers
90 views

swap partition and its laws

I remember for choice of swap partition, we should use (swap > 2xRAM) at least.Of course it deprecated , because max of computer's ram is very high. kernel support it. My question: i remember each ...
5
votes
3answers
246 views

Disadvantages of linux kernel module?

I am trying to understand the disadvantages of using Linux kernel modules. I understand the benefits of using them: the ability to dynamically insert code into a running system without having to ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views

USB_HID is not working

How do I get a usb keyboard to work? I have already selected and compiled the USB HID transport layer and I don't know what else to do.
2
votes
0answers
38 views

kgdb not returning control to gdb

I've compiled a kernel with kgdb support and I'm trying to debug it. I have two machines running, a debug machine (running the kgdb kernel) and the machine I'm using to debug it. They are connected ...
1
vote
1answer
145 views

USB3 Hard Drive Not Recognised by Linux

My external USB 3 hard drive is behaving very strangely: If I plug it into a USB 2 port, it works fine If I plug it into a USB 3 port, it doesn't work at all. It's not even mentioned in ...
2
votes
1answer
346 views

Kernel and QEMU : Unable to mount root fs error

I am trying to run a distro in the virtual disk image with a custom kernel,so that I can experiment and debug the kernel. I followed this to make a disk image and then install Debian to it. Now I ...
2
votes
1answer
346 views

Debugging Linux Kernel with QEMU

I was trying to study the debugging of kernel using QEMU. I tried initially and failed due to the fact that there was no virtual file system. The answers to this post suggests that there should be a ...
1
vote
1answer
199 views

Automatic kernel configuration tool

Is there any developed automatic linux kernel configuration tool? I have found a method of make localmodconfig, but it is certainly very limited. I have searched the web but unfortunately have not ...
1
vote
1answer
585 views

Unable to mount root fs after new kernel compile in VMware

So, I'm attempting to compile and use the 3.6.2 kernel on my Debian 6 VM (running under Windows 7 in VMware Workstation 9). I've already had several hick ups, but I am slowly getting through them but ...
1
vote
1answer
317 views

Learning the Unix/Linux Kernel [closed]

I've been reading The Design of the UNIX OS by Maurice J Bach. It's good overall. However, I learn better with audio/visual aids so does anyone know some good video lecture series or tutorials for ...
3
votes
2answers
982 views

Adding a new System call to Linux 3.2.x with a loadable kernel module [closed]

I want to add a particular new system call in the linux kernel 3.2.x but as a loadable kernel module (as I don't want to recompile the kernel again and again) I read through many posts on internet ...
18
votes
1answer
372 views

How to get started writing drivers?

I have a throw-away cheap laptop I'd like to twiddle around, a Thinkpad SL 500. What bothers me are two leds, the one for wireless connectivity, and the one for hibernation, which don't light up at ...
2
votes
1answer
3k views

/proc/sys/kernel/hung_task_timeout_secs error

I am building a CentOS 6.2 webserver on a Hyper-V Cluster and have hit a major issue. The current setup is this: Operating System: CentOS 6.2. Minimal Server Install Installed software includes: ...
0
votes
0answers
26 views

Loading a custom library [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Entry point of linux kernel I'm compiling my own linux kernel and I was wondering how I could make the kernel load a library that I made when it first boots up.
0
votes
1answer
198 views

Parse JSON or XML on bootup

I'm compiling my own version of the linux kernel and I was wondering if there is any way to do parse a local XML or JSON file. Thanks
2
votes
2answers
242 views

SIOCSIFADDR: File exists after upgrading kernel

Since upgrading my (Gentoo) kernel from 2.6.38 to 3.3.8 (via oldconfig), I can't get the network on eth0 up anymore. It reports "SIOCSIFADDR: File exists" with a number of other SIOCSIF* errors that ...
6
votes
2answers
640 views

An oom killer thats baffling me

I am not able to understand why would kernel issue this oom killer when I see enough memory is available: Also why are there so many kernel cache pages allocated? I say enough memory is available ...
2
votes
0answers
63 views

How to deal with closed source modules when configuring a new kernel build

I found this command very useful: make localmodconfig However, having some closed source drivers/modules ends up being a problem because this command can't find an appropriate way of including the ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views

How do I convert a kernel .config file from 32-bit to 64-bit?

At this page you can download a configuration file that lets you target a particular notebook architecture during the compilation of a new 32-bit Linux kernel. I need a 64 bit version. What do I ...
1
vote
3answers
303 views

Why does Linux on sparc64 architecture use 32-bit pointers in user-space and 64-bit pointers in kernel-space?

What are the advantages of deviating from the norm; that is 64-bit pointers in both user and kernel space for a 64-bit architecture? Reference: http://lwn.net/images/pdf/LDD3/ch11.pdf (Page 2)
0
votes
1answer
433 views

Can the Linux kernel be compiled on Mac OS X 10.6.8?

I have a Macbook Pro and I want to build the Linux Kernel. Can I build 3.3.6 on my Mac? How?
22
votes
1answer
1k views

High CPU usage with CFS?

I asked a previous question to try and isolate the source of an increase in CPU usage when moving an application from RHEL 5 to RHEL 6. The analysis that I did for that seems to indicate that it is ...
2
votes
1answer
398 views

Learning how to build my own linux kernel

Reference - http://www.linode.com/wiki/index.php/PV-GRUB#Building_Your_Own_Kernel In order to work with Xen, a number of options that must be selected: CONFIG_PARAVIRT_GUEST=y CONFIG_XEN=y ...
4
votes
3answers
329 views

Does the linux kernel (specifically 2.6 onwards) have any recursive function?

Given the limited fixed size of kernel stack, my guess is that although theoretically we might have a recursive function if its recursion doesn't go too deep, pragmatism would suggest to do away with ...
8
votes
1answer
2k views

Isolating cause of higher CPU usage on RHEL 6 vs RHEL 5

I'm currently looking to move our system from RHEL 5 to RHEL 6, but I've run into a snag with unexpectedly high CPU usage on the RHEL 6 machines. It appears that this may be due at least in some part ...
2
votes
0answers
142 views

Linux kernel headers' organization

While I was doing some reading on system calls, I did a search for "syscalls.h" to find the header file in LXR. The search results puzzled me. There is a dozen of "syscalls.h" files coming from ...
0
votes
1answer
171 views

Does CentOS fall into System V family? How is it considered to be while comparing with Unix System V family?

CentOS is "derived entirely from the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) distribution" (more here). Does it fall into any UNIX System V family? Such as PDP-11 or etc? If not, where does CentOS stands ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views

Can vmlinux be used instead of uImage?

I want to use an uncompressed kernel image and boot the BeagleBoard. Generally I use uImage to boot the kernel which is in compressed format. How do I use an uncompressed kernel image?
4
votes
1answer
285 views

What are the main differences between Unix and Linux kernels today?

I know that many of the same programs run flawlessly on top of both kernels. I know that historically, the two kernels came from different origins. I know philosophically too that they stood for ...
5
votes
1answer
245 views

Loading speedstep_centrino kernel module

Because of a noisy fan in my laptop, I need to change CPU frequency and for this task I need to load the appropriate kernel module. The CPU in my laptop Acer TravelMate 4002WLMi is: $ cat ...
1
vote
1answer
471 views

create a debian installer with custom kernel

First what I need to do is install a debian on a 3300mx computer which is based on a vortex cpu. The problem is the debian installer always crash because the required drivers are in the kernel as ...
4
votes
1answer
689 views

What is the difference between /proc/self/stack and output from pstack?

I have been looking through the documentation for /proc and the "stack" object being a new'ish object in proc, I have also looked through the kernel commit to create it -- however the documentation ...
18
votes
7answers
9k views

Linux Kernel: Good beginners' tutorial

I'm interested in modifying the kernel internals, applying patches, handling device drivers and modules, for my own personal fun. Is there a comprehensive resource for kernel hacking, intended for ...
225
votes
7answers
19k views

Understanding the Linux kernel source

I am trying to understand how a function, say mkdir, works by looking at the kernel source. This is an attempt to understand the kernel internals and navigate between various functions. I know mkdir ...