Kernel Versions

[sgtbob]

I have been using 'yum update' to keep my Fedora Core 4 up to date; however, I now have about 6 versions listed along with my Windows in a dual boot system. I used to be able to delete the older versions when I could get apt and synaptic to work; however, FC4 apparently does not permit use of these. How does one eliminiate the older kernels?

Bob :confused:

[aolex]

recompiling the kernle is not an easy job and it is recommended to do it manually . i will never trust a package manager tu update my kernel . anyway , the point is that after each update , you have to update your boot's manager configuration file to remove the old kernel and add the new one . tell us , what boot manager do you use ? :D

[falko]

Yes, do you use Grub or Lilo as boot loader?

[sgtbob]

I'm using GRUB.

BTW - I am fairly new to Linux, so some of my questions and problems stem from not knwing how to correct/install a lot of items. One of these install issues is that I am unable to comprehend how to open the 'tar' files to get them to work. Is there some sikmple instrucdtions available that show this process. All the sites I ahve visited presumes more knowledge than I possess and I am currently held prisoner by the 'rpm' process. I have one of the FC 'Bibles', but in trying to follow instructions there does not produce the end result of having the program installed. Bummer! :o

[falko]

I'm using GRUB.

Then you could edit /boot/grub/menu.lst. There you will find a section which looks like this (this one's taken from Debian):

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.8-2-386
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.8-2-386 root=/dev/sda1 ro
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.8-2-386
savedefault
boot

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.8-2-386 (recovery mode)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.8-2-386 root=/dev/sda1 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.8-2-386
savedefault
boot

Comment out the sections that you don't need.


One of these install issues is that I am unable to comprehend how to open the 'tar' files to get them to work. Is there some sikmple instrucdtions available that show this process. All the sites I ahve visited presumes more knowledge than I possess and I am currently held prisoner by the 'rpm' process. I have one of the FC 'Bibles', but in trying to follow instructions there does not produce the end result of having the program installed. Bummer! :o

If you have a file called test.tar.gz and want to unpack it, run tar xvfz test.tar.gz

[sgtbob]

I can get the unpack part to work, but what do I do after that to install a package? I can see a lot of files after I do the 'tar xvfz......gz...', but the next step is what has me stumped and I do not know how to proceed. I've read that './configure' is to be used and then 'make file' issues, etc., but it isn't clear how to do all this. :(

[falko]

Ok, you run
tar xvfz test.tar.gz
, then it is unpacked. Next you do ls -l to find out how the directory is named where the files have been unpacked to. For example, if it has been unpacked into the directory test, you run cd test, and you're in the test directory. Now you can do the next step, e.g. run ./configure or whatever you have to do.