2.1. Configure and Build the Linux Kernel¶

2.1.1. References¶

Understand the Linux kernel build and configuration process
Build a kernel for the native architecture of the host (using the native distribution C compiler)
Test the kernel on an emulated x86 system

The default architecture is x86_64.
All supported architectures have subdirectory in arch/ subdirectory of the kernel source.
Main architectures for embedded Linux devices: arm, mips, x86, powerpc

Important

The following steps are taken to configure, build and use a kernel:

user@host: make <some-defconfig>
user@host: make
user@host: make install

Get the kernel source:

user@host: cd ${DL_PATH}
user@host: wget https://cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v5.x/linux-5.0.6.tar.xz

Extract the source tarball on your host:

user@host: mkdir ${LINUX_PATH}
user@host: tar -C ${LINUX_PATH} -xvf linux-5.0.6.tar.xz
user@host: cd ${LINUX_PATH}/linux-5.0.6/

Set a default configuration for x86_64:
```
user@host: make x86_64_defconfig
```
Optionally: Start kernel configuration menu:
```
user@host: make menuconfig
```
Start kernel build process, (note: the number of jobs for make should equal 2*cpus + 1):
```
user@host: make -j 9
```

Test if the kernel boots in an emulated environment:

user@host: qemu-system-x86_64 -M pc -no-reboot -kernel arch/x86/boot/bzImage \
            -append "panic=1 console=tty1"

user@host: sudo apt install libssl-dev flex bison