Kernel install (Debian look-a-likes)

Before we continue you have to be sure these packages are installed: "kernel-package libncurses5-dev wget bzip2"

apt-get install kernel-package libncurses5-dev wget bzip2

Get a new kernel, through some package or via www.kernel.org. Extract the kernel in /usr/scr/

cd /usr/src/ ; tar xjf /tmp/linux-2.6.??.?.tar.bz2
ln -s linux-2.6.??.? linux

Copy your old .config to /usr/src/linux/ if you have any and execute the following command to created a new config with the old enabled commands.

make oldconfig

If you have enough memory, lets say 1GB, you can edit the Makefile with the -j3 flags so it will start 3 processes to compile your kernel.

After this we can really start the compile process. With the next command you are able to change some settings through the menu. Also with the rev command you are able to have revision numbers attached to your kernel, so you can track changes.

NOTE: Use the info from dmesg to make your kernel.

make-kpkg -rev 1 --config menuconfig --bzimage kernel_image

After a succesful compilation of the kernel a .deb is created in /usr/src/. This file is to be installed with:

dpkg -i [file].deb

Kernel (update) 

If you need to change something to your kernel the following commands can be used to accomplish a new kernel. You can change the revision number to keep track of changes.

make-kpkg clean
make-kpkg -rev X --config menuconfig --bzimage kernel_image

If you want to install this kernel you have to make sure to remove the old revision. You need to delete the file in the following locations:

/lib/modules/[kernel_versie]
/boot/config-[kernel_versie]
/boot/Systemmap-[kernel_versie]
/boot/vmlinuz-[kernel_versie]

After this the new version can be installed.

dpkg -i [file].deb