Patching a Kernel

[agent007]

hi all,

How can I add a module or patch the kernel without recompiling the whole thing?

thanks.

[Void Main]

What module would you be referring to? I know you can compile certain kernel modules without compiling the kernel as nVidia and VMware both do it.

As far as patching the kernel you could patch it and then just rerun "make install" and "make modules_install" assuming you had already previously built the kernel and didn't do a "make clean". You patch the source so any *.c files that are patched would have to be recompiled and the kernel built from the resulting object files (along with the object files left over from the previous build who's source wasn't patched). So yes you can patch the kernel without a complete recompile but you don't patch the binary kernel if that is what you mean.

[agent007]

I need to patch the kernel to add LIRC support for a remote....With ref to ur quote, thing is I dont know how to patch it!

thanks.

As far as patching the kernel you could patch it and then

[Void Main]

What makes you believe you need to patch your kernel? Which ir devices would you like to get working? There is an "lirc" RPM in the FreshRPMS archive (apt-get install lirc). You may have to modify that RPM from the SRPM though as according to the RPM header it's built by default only to work with the "Pinacle PCTV":

Code: Select all

Name        : lirc                         Relocations: (not relocateable)
Version     : 0.6.6                             Vendor: Freshrpms.net
Release     : fr1                           Build Date: Sun 30 Mar 2003 06:00:58 PM CST
Install Date: Wed 02 Apr 2003 12:43:34 AM CST      Build Host: shrike.freshrpms.net
Group       : System Environment/Daemons    Source RPM: lirc-0.6.6-fr1.src.rpm
Size        : 933430                           License: GPL
Signature   : DSA/SHA1, Sun 30 Mar 2003 08:43:11 PM CST, Key ID 692ac459e42d547bPackager    : Matthias Saou <matthias.saou@est.une.marmotte.net>
URL         : http://www.lirc.org/
Summary     : The Linux Infrared Remote Control package.
Description :
LIRC is the Linux Infrared Remote Control package.
This package features a clean lircd initscript and a logrotate config file.
 
The default binary build of this package will only work with the Pinnacle
PCTV serial remote, if you have a different device, you will probably need
to recompile the source RPM changing the "--with-driver=" configure option
to your device.
 
If your remote requires special kernel modules to run, I guess you're stuck
having to recompile a kernel and recompile lirc manually to get the modules!


Of course it would depend on the device you want to get working whether you need to do any patching or recompiling. Can you give more info on what your goal is?