Upgrading the kernel

[Robert H. Perry]

Ryan Thompson wrote:

>Robert H. Perry wrote to FreeBSD-Questions:
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>>I'm upgrading from 4.7 RELEASE to 4.8 RELEASE soon.  My understanding
>>is that once you have built the world with buildworld, it's time to
>>build and install the new kernel.
>>    
>>
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>In your scenario, yes, you'll definitely want to build a new kernel. In
>fact, I hope you elected to go with the security branch (RELENG_4_8), so
>that you get the 13 or so security related fixes that have been applied
>since 4.8 was released.
>
Hadn't intended to, but now I'll have to consider it.  This is my first 
upgrade and I was sticking with the basics.

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>>My current kernel is customized with a sound card device and nothing
>>else.
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>That's fine; you can continue to use your kernel config.
>(/usr/src/sys/i386/conf/WHATEVERYOUCALLEDYOURKERNELCONFIG)
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>>The  FreeBSD Handbook indicates that the safest way to do this is to
>>build and install a kernel based on GENERIC.  After booting from
>>GENERIC and verifying that your system works you can then customize
>>your kernel.
>>    
>>
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>Well, you can if you want, but you won't have any issues from 4.7 ->
>4.8. I'd just go with your custom kernel config.
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>>Can I use the commands, # make buildkernel and # make installkernel,
>>or are #make buildkernel KERNCONF=GENERIC and # make installkernel
>>KERNCONF=GENERIC the correct commands?
>>    
>>
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>Have you specified KERNCONF in /etc/make.conf?
>
No.

> If not, then it defaults
>to GENERIC. In your case, though, again, you shouldn't have any problems
>building from your custom conf.
>
Just to clarify then, is the following OK:

# cd /usr/src
# make buildkernel KERNCONF=CUSTOM
# make installkernel KERNCONF=CUSTOM

CUSTOM is the name of my kernel config file.

>
>- Ryan
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