Thanks cecil

Great - thanks. Somehow, I missed this post, though search on "kernel source" gets it no problem. I think I was focusing on kernel headers, which is all I originally thought I needed. So, this post is simply to insert the words "kernel headers" into this thread .

Thanks, cecil!

Perhaps this should become a sticky thread, at least until the next release?

Scott Milliken

Thanks, cecil!

Dwaine

BTW, I had some trial-and-error messing around to compile it - most specifically, I had to have the /usr/src/linux link remain pointing to the headers, to compile the source, and then after I could move the link to the source. See the VMWareServer Wiki page for cut/paste instructions.

Would it be asking too much to put this sequence into a small shell script located in /usr/src, along with a short README.linux-source file? It would be worth adding the following commands, which were derived from the earlier comments and the VMWare page on the KnoppMythWiki:

After these steps, additional out-of-tree drivers can be built using the kernel sources (such as the HD-5500 drivers).

I think, though I'd love to have someone more knowledgeable clarify this, that there was something lacking about the R5E50 kernel headers installed, that made all these steps necessary.

I think that VMWare, driver builds etc., ought to be happy with simply the kernel headers, not needing the entire source.

Also, there's a thread about the Nvidia drivers where it indicates how you can get around building the entire kernel (and the associated wait), though it's a bit of a hack.

So, it's my belief that future releases won't need all this messing around. Anyone?

My two cents is that I hope it will be possible on future releases to be able to recompile lirc. I use a remote that uses the serial module but a unique packard_bell driver. I also use a usb-uirt remote that requires an lirc patch and compile.

I think lirc needs kernel source? Module-assistant can be used with the headers only to build lirc-modules; i believe.

it just seems, for flexibility sake, we should have access working copies of both.

it was too hard to include the kernel source on the cd ?

Setting up an install CD is already an excercise in getting 40 lbs. of stuff in a 20 lb. sack. All through the R5C and R5D series having the image not fit on a CD was a nagging concern (there was a point where it would only fit on a 700 Mb/80 minute CD and not a "standard" 640Mb/72min. one). As a result, with he R5E series Cecil started from scratch with a minmal image and added things back only as necessary.

With the header files set up properly you really shouldn't need the kernels source to build modules, and Cecil tried to take andvantage of that. It would be far more productiive to sort out the issue with the header file set up rather than giving him grief about the decision.

Along those lines. If Cecil wants to pack more features into Knoppmyth maybe we can go to a DVD image? I know I would be fine with it.

Maybe two versions of KM? A slim and a beefy one, CD and DVD?

I think not including the kernel source is fine, particularly if there is a well known way to get it.

VMWare seemed upset about the installed headers because /usr/src/linux/Makefile did not exist, and said something like "headers exist, but don't appear to be part of a source tree". Very odd. I don't know whether it really needs the source, or is just unnecessarily demanding .

Has it been contemplated (I'm sure it has, apologies if I missed the posts) to host a KnoppMyth .deb repository so that extra packages can be left off the install disk, but easily available via apt-get? I have no idea what's actually involved. The current .deb download is no hassle, but it requires documentation etc., whereas a repository would mean people could just use all the apt tools.

<dream mode>I imagine that those crucial .deb packages which currently would mess everything up with an apt-get upgrade, could be in the KM repository (listed first in /etc/apt/sources.list), and then the day could come when you really could do an apt-get upgrade to get the latest knoppmyth.</dream mode>

How can we set up the header files properly? If you know how to do it, DO TELL!

Incidently, I'd also be fine with a KM DVD iso file rather than a cd iso. Blank DVDs are cheap too. Bring it on!

_________________
KnoppMyth R5.5, Asus A8N-VM CSM (nvidia 6150 onboard video), AMD Athlon 64 dual-core 4200+, two 1GB sticks DDR 400, HD-3000 HDTV card, PVR-150 card, Iguanaworks RS-232 IR receiver/transmitter, Pioneer DVR-110 DVD burner

I also agree with moving to a DVD image, given the amount of stuff that seems to be being left out in the interest of saving space. Out of 5 network cards that have always "just worked" with other Linux distros, including previous releases of KM, I've only got one of them functioning so far under R5E50. I have yet to get my Linksys Gigabit card up and running, which is what led me in search of the kernel source to begin with.

It seems to me that the drawbacks of staying within the confines of a CD image are great, while the downsides of moving to a DVD image would be quite minimal. It seems to me that leaving out vital functionality, and therefore requiring the user to jump through hoops to get their system functional, is in direct opposition to the original spirit that KM was developed in. Much more so than simply adding a few hundred megs to the download and requiring a blank DVD rather than a blank CD.

Myth pretty much requires network functionality to be useful. If drivers for common network cards are now being left out in the interest of fitting on a CD, the usefulness of KM will be hugely hindered.

One other interesting approach is what the Smoothwall folks are doing. With their latest alpha release, they also have a full "developers edition" that installs the same functional system as the normal release, but also includes the development tools to build the whole system from scratch, including the installable ISO image.

But really, for the moment I'd just be happy with the full kernel tree so I can build my sk98lin driver!