How do I customize my kernel installation?

Resolving The Problem

How do I customize my kernel installation?

Custom kernel installation

This document outlines how to change the kernel on the nodes. Changing to a kernel other than the one provided should be avoided if possible. The following section outlines how to install a kernel from kernel.org

Warning: The procedure below will change the kernel version to one not supported by RedHat or CentOS, and may make getting support from them difficult. Carefully consider the ramifications of changing the kernel before doing so.

1. Go to http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6 to download a kernel you want.
2. Extract the tar.gz or tar.bz2 file to a location of your choice.
3. Copy the existing Red Hat config file from /boot directory to the location you extracted the kernel sources to.
4. Go to the directory containing the kernel source.
5. # make defconfig
6. # make rpm
7. This will produce an RPM from the kernel.

Note: If you want to build a SMP kernel you need to build this on a SMP machine likewise for a UP kernel.

8. As root backup the kernel RPM from /home/install/ftp.rocksclusters.org/pub/rocks/rocks-4.1.1/rocks-dist/rolls/os/4.1.1/x86_64/RedHat/RPMS.
9. Copy the new kernel RPM to the location above.
10. # cd /export/home/install
11. Run rocks-dist dist
12. Install one node and verify it has the new kernel.
13. Boot the reinstalled node. If needed edit the /boot/grub/rocks.conf and /boot/grub/grub-orig.conf to boot the newly installed kernel, and reboot again.
14. Once the reinstalled node is functioning properly reinstall the other nodes.