Build a new kernel (and kernel modules) for the LinkStation

PowerPC Only | This method only works for the powerpc-hdhlan and powerpc-hdhglan LinkStations.

Abstract

This article is for people that want to build a new kernel for the LinkStation. We will use the powerpc-hdhglan LinkStation for our example.

Prerequisites

This article assumes that you have installed Projects/OpenLink or Projects/FreeLink and the appropriate development tools. You also will need the kernel source code, a working kernel .config, and any applicable patches. You may download them from [here].

Cross-Toolchain | You can build the kernel and kernel modules much, much faster by using a cross-toolchain.:)

Method

• Extract the kernel source code somewhere sensible. Mine lives in /mnt/ somewhere with an alias to it from /usr/src/linux to keep it off the tiny system partition:

tar -xvzf linux-sources-2.4.20-lsw-ppc-hg1.tgz
mkdir /usr/src
ln -s /path/to/kernel/directory /usr/src/linux
cd /usr/src/linux

• Copy the kernel .config to the kernel source directory then run:

make menuconfig

• You can add/remove features to/from the kernel. Note that the supplied kernel .config will build properly so any errors when compiling are most likely due to your modifications.

• Compile the kernel. Make sure you have something else to amuse you because this takes a while:

make oldconfig
make dep
make
objcopy -O binary vmlinux

• Compile the kernel modules. This step may take some time depending on the modules you selected:

make modules
make modules_install

• Now copy the kernel modules to the correct place:

cp -r release_modules/lib/modules/2.4.20_mvl31-linkstationwiki-hg1/ /lib/modules/

• Load your new kernel using the kernel loader how-to. Then build the kernel module dependencies:

depmod -a

• You should now have a working kernel replacement and be able to load some shiny new kernel modules!

References

Jochang included some useful information in his [loader how-to]. Also Trevor Powdrell from the Kuro forums wrote a [patch] that allows the powerpc-hdhglan kernel to compile under GCC 3.3/3.4.