node1 kernel upgrade

Below are the steps that I executed to get the node1 server from RedHat Linux 8.0, kernel version 2.4.18-14 up to 2.4.20-43_41. There is some flexibility in these steps, and it doesnt need to be done this way, but this is what worked for me.

• Run the uname -a command to find out what type of kernel is installed now. Our case it showed i686.
• Download kernel rpm's from AT RPMS. I downloaded them into /usr/local/Install/kernel/2.4.20-43_41 directory. Download the following rpm's (even though we will only use some of the, get them all) :
  • kernel-2.4.20-43_41.rh8.0.at.i686.rpm (this should match uname output)
  • kernel-BOOT-2.4.20-43_41.rh8.0.at.i386.rpm
  • kernel-bigmem-2.4.20-43_41.rh8.0.at.i686.rpm
  • kernel-doc-2.4.20-43_41.rh8.0.at.i386.rpm
  • kernel-smp-2.4.20-43_41.rh8.0.at.i686.rpm (this should match uname output)
  • kernel-source-2.4.20-43_41.rh8.0.at.i586.rpm
  • oprofile-0-4-44.9.1.i386.rpm
• Get a listing of what is currently installed in the server now :

    # rpm -qa | grep -i kernel
    kernel-source-2.4.18-14
    kernel-smp-2.4.18-14
    kernel-uml-2.4.18-14
    kernel-debug-2.4.18-14
    kernel-2.4.18-14
    kernel-doc-2.4.18-14
    

• I decided to be extra cautious, and following rule number 1 (trust nothing), decided to put the original redhat8 cd's in and extract those 2.4.18 rpms shown above - into the /usr/local/Install/kernel/2.4.18-14 subdirectory. This is just in case they were needed for any reason.
• Be sure to print or save a copy of /etc/grub.conf just in case there are any issues, and you need to get back to an older kernel.
• cd /usr/local/Install/kernel/2.4.20-43_41
• rpm --repackage -Fhv * (note that the repackage option send all extracted rpms to /var/spool/repackage)

This page last updated by Paul on 07/18/2005