Intro ===== This document is designed to provide a list of the minimum levels of software necessary to run the 2.4 kernels, as well as provide brief instructions regarding any other "Gotchas" users may encounter when trying life on the Bleeding Edge. If upgrading from a pre-2.2.x kernel, please consult the Changes file included with 2.2.x kernels for additional information; most of that information will not be repeated here. Basically, this document assumes that your system is already functional and running at least 2.2.x kernels. This document is originally based on my "Changes" file for 2.0.x kernels and therefore owes credit to the same people as that file (Jared Mauch, Axel Boldt, Alessandro Sigala, and countless other users all over the 'net). The latest revision of this document, in various formats, can always be found at . Feel free to translate this document. If you do so, please send me a URL to your translation for inclusion in future revisions of this document. Smotrite file , yavlyaushisya russkim perevodom dannogo documenta. Visite para obtener la traducción al español de este documento en varios formatos. Eine deutsche Version dieser Datei finden Sie unter . Last updated: January 11, 2001 Chris Ricker (kaboom@gatech.edu or chris.ricker@genetics.utah.edu). Current Minimal Requirements ============================ Upgrade to at *least* these software revisions before thinking you've encountered a bug! If you're unsure what version you're currently running, the suggested command should tell you. Again, keep in mind that this list assumes you are already functionally running a Linux 2.2 kernel. Also, not all tools are necessary on all systems; obviously, if you don't have any PCMCIA (PC Card) hardware, for example, you probably needn't concern yourself with pcmcia-cs. o Gnu C 2.91.66 # gcc --version o Gnu make 3.77 # make --version o binutils 2.9.1.0.25 # ld -v o util-linux 2.10o # fdformat --version o modutils 2.4.2 # insmod -V o e2fsprogs 1.19 # tune2fs o reiserfsprogs 3.x.0d # reiserfsck 2>&1|grep reiserfsprogs o pcmcia-cs 3.1.21 # cardmgr -V o PPP 2.4.0 # pppd --version o isdn4k-utils 3.1pre1 # isdnctrl 2>&1|grep version Kernel compilation ================== GCC --- The gcc version requirements may vary depending on the type of CPU in your computer. The next paragraph applies to users of x86 CPUs, but not necessarily to users of other CPUs. Users of other CPUs should obtain information about their gcc version requirements from another source. The recommended compiler for the kernel is egcs 1.1.2 (gcc 2.91.66), and it should be used when you need absolute stability. You may use gcc 2.95.2 instead if you wish, although it may cause problems. Later versions of gcc have not received much testing for Linux kernel compilation, and there are almost certainly bugs (mainly, but not exclusively, in the kernel) that will need to be fixed in order to use these compilers. In any case, using pgcc instead of egcs or plain gcc is just asking for trouble. Note that gcc 2.7.2.3 is no longer a supported kernel compiler. The kernel no longer works around bugs in gcc 2.7.2.3 and, in fact, will refuse to be compiled with it. In addition, please pay attention to compiler optimization. Anything greater than -O2 may not be wise. Similarly, if you choose to use gcc-2.95 or derivatives, be sure not to use -fstrict-aliasing (which, depending on your version of gcc 2.95, may necessitate using -fno-strict-aliasing). Make ---- You will need Gnu make 3.77 or later to build the kernel. Binutils -------- Linux on IA-32 has recently switched from using as86 to using gas for assembling the 16-bit boot code, removing the need for as86 to compile your kernel. This change does, however, mean that you need a recent release of binutils. If you can, upgrade to the latest 2.9.5 or 2.10 binutils release. Older releases such as 2.8, 2.8.xx, and the FSF's 2.9.1 should be avoided if at all possible. The later releases of 2.9.1.0.x (anything where x >= 22) can and do compile the kernel properly, but there are many benefits in upgrading to 2.9.5 or 2.10 if you're up to it. System utils ============ Architectural changes --------------------- DevFS is now in the kernel. See Documentation/filesystems/devfs/* in the kernel source tree for all the gory details. The Logical Volume Manager (LVM) is now in the kernel. If you want to use this, you'll need to install the necessary LVM toolset. 32-bit UID support is now in place. Have fun! Linux documentation for functions is transitioning to inline documentation via specially-formatted comments near their definitions in the source. These comments can be combined with the SGML templates in the Documentation/DocBook directory to make DocBook files, which can then be converted by DocBook stylesheets to PostScript, HTML, PDF files, and several other formats. In order to convert from DocBook format to a format of your choice, you'll need to install Jade as well as the desired DocBook stylesheets. Util-linux ---------- New versions of util-linux provide *fdisk support for larger disks, support new options to mount, recognize more supported partition types, have a fdformat which works with 2.4 kernels, and similar goodies. You'll probably want to upgrade. Ksymoops -------- If the unthinkable happens and your kernel oopses, you'll need a 2.4 version of ksymoops to decode the report; see REPORTING-BUGS in the root of the Linux source for more information. Modutils -------- Upgrade to recent modutils to fix various outstanding bugs which are seen more frequently under 2.3.x, and to enable auto-loading of USB modules. In addition, the layout of modules under /lib/modules/`uname -r`/ has been made more sane. This change also requires that you upgrade to a recent modutils. Mkinitrd -------- These changes to the /lib/modules file tree layout also require that mkinitrd be upgraded. E2fsprogs --------- The latest version of e2fsprogs fixes several bugs in fsck and debugfs. Obviously, it's a good idea to upgrade. Reiserfsprogs ------------- The reiserfsprogs package should be used for reiserfs-3.6.x (Linux kernels 2.4.x). It is a combined package and contains working versions of mkreiserfs, resize_reiserfs, debugreiserfs and reiserfsck. These utils work on both i386 and alpha platforms. Pcmcia-cs --------- PCMCIA (PC Card) support is now partially implemented in the main kernel source. Pay attention when you recompile your kernel ;-). Also, be sure to upgrade to the latest pcmcia-cs release. Intel IA32 microcode -------------------- A driver has been added to allow updating of Intel IA32 microcode, accessible as both a devfs regular file and as a normal (misc) character device. If you are not using devfs you may need to: mkdir /dev/cpu mknod /dev/cpu/microcode c 10 184 chmod 0644 /dev/cpu/microcode as root before you can use this. You'll probably also want to get the user-space microcode_ctl utility to use with this. If you have compiled the driver as a module you may need to add the following line: alias char-major-10-184 microcode to your /etc/modules.conf file. Powertweak ---------- If you are running v0.1.17 or earlier, you should upgrade to version v0.99.0 or higher. Running old versions may cause problems with programs using shared memory. Networking ========== General changes --------------- The IP firewalling and NAT code has been replaced again. The new netfilter software (including ipfwadm and ipchains backwards- compatible modules) is currently distributed separately. If you have advanced network configuration needs, you should probably consider using the network tools from ip-route2. PPP --- The PPP driver has been restructured to support multilink and to enable it to operate over diverse media layers. If you use PPP, upgrade pppd to at least 2.4.0b1. If you are not using devfs, you must have the device file /dev/ppp which can be made by: mknod /dev/ppp c 108 0 as root. If you build ppp support as modules, you will need the following in your /etc/modules.conf file: alias char-major-108 ppp_generic alias /dev/ppp ppp_generic alias tty-ldisc-3 ppp_async alias tty-ldisc-14 ppp_synctty alias ppp-compress-21 bsd_comp alias ppp-compress-24 ppp_deflate alias ppp-compress-26 ppp_deflate If you use devfsd and build ppp support as modules, you will need the following in your /etc/devfsd.conf file: LOOKUP PPP MODLOAD Isdn4k-utils ------------ Due to changes in the length of the phone number field, isdn4k-utils needs to be recompiled or (preferably) upgraded. Getting updated software ======================== Compilers ********* egcs 1.1.2 (gcc 2.91.66) ------------------------ o gcc 2.95.2 ---------- o Gnu Make ******** Make 3.77 -------- o Binutils ******** 2.9.1 series ------------ o 2.9.5 and 2.10 series --------------------- o System utilities **************** Util-linux ---------- o Ksymoops -------- o Modutils -------- o Mkinitrd -------- o E2fsprogs --------- o o Reiserfsprogs ------------- o LVM toolset ----------- o Pcmcia-cs --------- o Jade ---- o DocBook Stylesheets ------------------- o Intel P6 microcode ------------------ o Powertweak ---------- o Network ******* PPP --- o Isdn4k-utils ------------ o Netfilter --------- o o o Ip-route2 --------- o Suggestions and corrections =========================== Please feel free to submit changes, corrections, gripes, flames, money, etc. to me . Happy Linuxing!