Or, How to update your kernel
Introduction
There are many reasons to update your kernel - security updates, new features, new hardware support, to name a few. This document is primarily targetted at G5 users who need to update their kernel in order to get their fans to stop blowing at full blast. However, it will also work for all Yellow Dog users looking to update for the latest kernel.
The kernel shipped with YDL 4.0 does not have thermal support built in. This means the system cannot monitor temperature or control fan speed - so by default the fans are on high speed to keep the system as cool as possible. The fans runing at full speed causes no harm to your system, it's just annoying to sit next to.
Since releasing YDL 4.0, we have integrated thermal support into the kernel. You can install this kernel, and quiet your tower down by executing the following steps:
Procedure
1. Log in as root
2. Install the kernel using Yum. You can run either:
'yum install kernel-g5' (this will install just the kernel)
or
'yum update' (this will install all the updated packages, but take significantly longer)
Note: Sometimes if the server is busy, yum will hang for a while. You can hit ctrl-c to abort, and then re-run it.
Note: If you are not on a G5, use yum install kernel rather than kernel-g5
3. Edit /etc/yaboot.conf
- run 'nano /etc/yaboot.conf'
- Find an existing kernel section in the file to use as an example. It will look something like this:
image=/vmlinux-2.6.8-1.ydl.7
label=linux
read-only
initrd=/initrd-2.6.8-1.ydl.7.img
root=/dev/hda4
append="rhgb quiet"
or (notice, this one has '/boot' in it twice):
image=/boot/vmlinux-2.6.8-1.ydl.7
label=linux
read-only
initrd=/boot/initrd-2.6.8-1.ydl.7.img
root=/dev/hda4
append="rhgb quiet"
Each of these represents an option in the 'boot:' menu that is displayed at startup. We are simply adding an option to that menu.- Copy your existing section as a new one at the bottom of the file.
- Now, in the new entry, change:
'vmlinux-2.6.8-1.ydl.7' to 'vmlinux-2.6.9-1.ydl.8g5' 'label=linux' to 'label=linux-2.6.9' 'initrd-2.6.8-1.ydl.7.img' to 'initrd-2.6.9-1.ydl.8g5.img'- Finally, find the line near the top of the file that reads:
default=linux
and change it to 'default=linux-2.6.9'
(if this line doesn't exist, just add it near the top.)
- Save the file, and exit your editor.
4. Run 'ybin'
5. Reboot.
Your system should now run much more quietly.
This HOWTO was prepared by AJ Hawks, Terra Soft Solutions
