How to Compile a Kernel in Debian

Here you will see how to build Debian deb package for linux kernel source.

Install Tools

First of all install few tools:

apt-get install kernel-package libncurses5-dev fakeroot bzip2 build-essential

Prepare Working Directory

1. Add users to group src:

   usermod -a -G src user1
   

2. Ensure group src is the owner of /usr/src:

   chgrp -R src /usr/src
   chmod g+s /usr/src
   chmod -R g+w /usr/src
   

Download Kernel Source

1. Change your working directory to /usr/src/:

   cd /usr/src
   

2. Download kernel source from kernel.org:

   wget -c http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/linux-2.6.36.tar.bz2
   

3. Decompress kernel source and create a symbolic link:

   tar xjf linux-2.6.36.tar.bz2
   test -L linux && rm linux 
   ln -s linux-2.6.36 linux
   cd linux
   

Configure Kernel

1. Let use existing kernel configuration as a start point:

   cp /boot/config-`uname -r` /usr/src/linux/.config
   

2. Launch kernel configuration tool:

   make menuconfig
   

3. Start kernel build (this may take from 20 mins to few hours depending on your hardware and number of CPUs):

   time fakeroot make-kpkg -j 2 --initrd --append-to-version=-custom kernel_image kernel_headers
   

4. Once build finishes you should get two .deb files in parent directory:

   deby01:/usr/src$ ls -l *.deb
   
   linux-headers-2.6.36-custom_2.6.36-custom-10.00.Custom_amd64.deb
   linux-image-2.6.36-custom_2.6.36-custom-10.00.Custom_amd64.deb
   

Install Kernel

1. Install linux kernel and image deb packages by issuing the following command:

   dpkg -i *.deb
   

2. Restart your computer:

   shutdown -r now
   

3. Once it restarts check the kernel version you are using:

   deby01:~$ uname -r
   2.6.36-custom
   

Enjoy your custom kernel.