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Basic System Administration

If the intent is to construct a  custom  kernel, rather than just rebuild the

delivered one, then make config (or one of its varieties) must be executed to

re configure the kernel to the new requirements. Once this has been done:

make kpkg kernel image

will construct a kernel image package that can be installed using dselect or

dpkg. This image package is only an advantage if LILO (or some other boot

manager) is used. If loadlin is being used to boot the kernel, then it will be

necessary to move the kernel image file by hand to its proper location.

Although the benefits may seem limited, use of the packaging system can make

life much easier. With the kernel this is not as necessary as it is with other

packages, so the decision is left to the System Administrator as to how this

issue should be dealt with.