New Kernel Survival Strategies

Janina Sajka janina at afb.net
Tue Oct 2 11:48:50 EDT 2001 

On Tue, 2 Oct 2001, Tim Burgess wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> This sounds like an excellent strategy to me.  Would you be willing to
> provide your lilo.conf as a reference for us newbies who have just fallen
> foul of getting lilo.conf wrong?
> 
No problem. Here it is. Beware, though, that your circumstances may be 
different, i.e. lba32, vga=,  initrd's, and such things.

The other important survival tool is a bootable floppy disk. Here's my 
/etc/lilo.conf:

boot=/dev/hda
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
compact
prompt
timeout=500
message=/boot/message
lba32
default=current
serial=0,9600N8

image=/boot/new
label = new
alias = n
vga=0X317
initrd=/boot/initrd.img-new
read-only
root=/dev/hda1
append = "hdc=ide-scsi hde=ide-scsi"

image = /boot/current
label=current
alias = c
vga=0X317
initrd=/boot/initrd.img
read-only
root=/dev/hda1
append = "hdc=ide-scsi hde=ide-scsi"

image = /boot/current
label=express
alias = x
vga=0X317
initrd=/boot/initrd.img
read-only
root=/dev/hda1
append = "speakup_synth=dectlk hdc=ide-scsi hde=ide-scsi"

image = /boot/current
label=litetalk
alias = l
vga=0X317
initrd=/boot/initrd.img
read-only
root=/dev/hda1
append = "speakup_synth=ltlk hdc=ide-scsi hde=ide-scsi"

image = /boot/current
label=bns
alias = b
vga=0X317
initrd=/boot/initrd.img
read-only
root=/dev/hda1
append = "speakup_synth=bns hdc=ide-scsi hde=ide-scsi"

image = /boot/previous
label=previous
alias = p
vga=0X317
initrd=/boot/initrd.img-previous
read-only
root=/dev/hda1
append = "hdc=ide-scsi hde=ide-scsi"

other=/dev/hda3
optional
label=dos

table = /dev/hda

> Thanks.
> 
> Tim
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: speakup-admin at braille.uwo.ca
> [mailto:speakup-admin at braille.uwo.ca]On Behalf Of Janina Sajka
> Sent: 02 October 2001 14:53
> To: speakup at braille.uwo.ca
> Subject: New Kernel Survival Strategies
> 
> 
> 
> Well, since we're on the subject of new kernel strategies, I've changed
> the subject line.
> 
> Now, I'd like to modestly offer my strategy.
> 
> Here's what I do:
> 
> I have three entries in my lilo.conf, previous, current, and new. These
> are the image labels. In my /boot directory, I symlink the appropriate
> vmlinuz to previous and current. New is actually symlinked to
> /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage, which does work with my lilo and
> bios.
> 
> Now, when I gen a new kernel, I have to actively select it during
> boot--and I have to specify the speakup synth parm.
> 
> Previous is there mainly in case I make a mistake copying a new kernel
> into current.
> 
> PS: I use several synths on my laptop--including none. Each of these is a
> separate entry in lilo.conf pointing to current and differes only on the
> append= line, of course.
> 
> This has worked very well for me.
> 
> 
> On Tue, 2 Oct 2001, Kirk Wood wrote:
> 
> > On Tue, 2 Oct 2001, Martin G. McCormick wrote:
> > > 	I second the advice to not fear configuring kernels.  The
> > > main thing is to first do no harm.  If you have a working kernel,
> > > by all means, save it.  .....
> >
> > Better yet, just leave it just as it is. After you compile your new kernel
> > copy/move it to the /boot directory (or partition) and then make another
> > entry in lilo.conf for the new kernel. You can copy everything from your
> > current (hopefully working) entry changing the label and the name of the
> > kernel itself. If this is the only modification, then you can boot back by
> > simply doing nothing. If you want to try the new kernel hit the tab key
> > right as the computer starts to boot. Then type the label for hte new
> > kernel and hit enter.
> >
> > Things to avoid are believing you need to name your kernel just like the
> > one that is there (probably vmlinuz). This is great for making it so that
> > anyone can find it. But you can always refer to lilo as well. I name mine
> > with a combo of version info and other stuff (such as 2.2.17-music for
> > when I configured to use the also drivers). This makes it easy for me to
> > tell what was for what. I like to keep multiple kernels arround. If
> > something goes goofy in hardware one may be able to get by the problem.
> >
> > =======
> > Kirk Wood
> > Cpt.Kirk at 1tree.net
> >
> > "When I take action, I'm not going to fire a $2 million missle at
> > a $10 empty tent and hit a camel in the butt. It's going to be decisive."
> > 	- President George Bush
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Speakup mailing list
> > Speakup at braille.uwo.ca
> > http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> >
> 
> --
> 
> 				Janina Sajka, Director
> 				Technology Research and Development
> 				Governmental Relations Group
> 				American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
> 
> Email: janina at afb.net		Phone: (202) 408-8175
> 
> Chair, Accessibility SIG
> Open Electronic Book Forum (OEBF)
> http://www.openebook.org
> 
> Will electronic books surpass print books? Read our white paper,
> Surpassing Gutenberg, at http://www.afb.org/ebook.asp
> 
> Download a free sample Digital Talking Book edition of Martin Luther
> King Jr's inspiring "I Have A Dream" speech at
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> 
> Learn how to make accessible software at
> http://www.afb.org/accessapp.asp
> 
> 
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> 
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-- 
	
				Janina Sajka, Director
				Technology Research and Development
				Governmental Relations Group
				American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)

Email: janina at afb.net		Phone: (202) 408-8175

Chair, Accessibility SIG
Open Electronic Book Forum (OEBF)
http://www.openebook.org

Will electronic books surpass print books? Read our white paper,
Surpassing Gutenberg, at http://www.afb.org/ebook.asp

Download a free sample Digital Talking Book edition of Martin Luther
King Jr's inspiring "I Have A Dream" speech at
http://www.afb.org/mlkweb.asp

Learn how to make accessible software at
http://www.afb.org/accessapp.asp

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