{"id":1578,"date":"2015-08-25T22:05:08","date_gmt":"2015-08-26T04:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/?p=1578"},"modified":"2026-04-20T01:03:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T07:03:20","slug":"compiling-and-installing-new-kernel-in-redhat-linux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/compiling-and-installing-new-kernel-in-redhat-linux\/","title":{"rendered":"Compiling and installing new kernel in Redhat Linux"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>This guide explains how to upgrade your Linux kernel from version <strong>2.6.32<\/strong> to <strong>3.2.71<\/strong> by compiling and installing it manually from source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1: Install Required Dependencies<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Before compiling the kernel, install the necessary development tools and update the system packages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>yum install gcc ncurses ncurses-devel<br>yum update<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>These packages ensure your system has the required compiler and libraries for kernel compilation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2: Download Kernel Source<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Navigate to the source directory and download the Linux kernel source code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>cd \/usr\/src\/<br>wget https:\/\/www.kernel.org\/pub\/linux\/kernel\/v3.x\/linux-3.2.71.tar.xz<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also download the latest kernel version from:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kernel.org\/\">https:\/\/www.kernel.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3: Extract Kernel Source<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Extract the downloaded archive and move into the kernel directory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>tar xvfJ linux-3.2.71.tar.xz<br>cd linux-3.2.71<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 4: Configure the Kernel<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>You can configure the kernel using an interactive menu or reuse the existing configuration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Interactive Configuration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>make menuconfig<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use Existing Configuration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to reuse the current kernel configuration:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>make oldconfig<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>This generates a <code>.config<\/code> file based on your existing setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you like to configure your latest kernel with old configuration then simple type the below command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/1k.jpg\" data-rel=\"penci-gallery-image-content\" ><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"665\" height=\"367\" src=\"http:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/1k.jpg\" alt=\"1k\" class=\"wp-image-1580\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/1k.jpg 665w, https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/1k-300x166.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 665px) 100vw, 665px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 5: Compile the Kernel<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Start the compilation process. This may take 40\u201360 minutes depending on system performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>make<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 6: Install the Kernel<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Once compilation completes successfully, install the kernel modules and files:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>make modules_install install<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>This automatically:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Copies files to <code>\/boot<\/code><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Updates GRUB bootloader entries<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 7: Verify Installation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Check if the new kernel files are created in <code>\/boot<\/code>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>ls \/boot\/ | grep 3.2.71<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>Expected files include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><code>vmlinuz-3.2.71<\/code><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><code>initramfs-3.2.71.img<\/code><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><code>System.map-3.2.71<\/code><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 8: Verify GRUB Entry<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>After installation, GRUB configuration will include the new kernel:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>title Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (3.2.71)<br>    kernel \/vmlinuz-3.2.71<br>    initrd \/initramfs-3.2.71.imgtitle Red Hat Enterprise Linux (2.6.32-71.el6.x86_64)<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>The old kernel remains available as a fallback option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 9: Boot into New Kernel<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>To boot once into the new kernel safely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>echo \"savedefault --default=1 --once\" | grub --batch<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>Then reboot the system:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>shutdown -rf now<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>This ensures that if the new kernel fails, the system can revert to the previous stable kernel automatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 10: Verify Kernel Version<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>After reboot, confirm the running kernel version:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>uname -r<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You have successfully upgraded your Linux kernel from <strong>2.6.32 to 3.2.71<\/strong> by compiling from source. This process improves system performance, stability, and hardware support while maintaining a safe fallback to the older kernel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you require help, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/requestquote.php\">contact SupportPRO Server Admin<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-9d590242-d641-4383-94b4-8cfd62f0af6b\" class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\"><span id=\"hs-cta-9d590242-d641-4383-94b4-8cfd62f0af6b\" class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-9d590242-d641-4383-94b4-8cfd62f0af6b\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/freecheckup.php\"><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-center has-white-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\">Facing issues? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\">Our technical support<br>engineers can solve it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\" id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-3350a795-db50-482f-9911-301930d1b1be\"><span class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-3350a795-db50-482f-9911-301930d1b1be\" id=\"hs-cta-3350a795-db50-482f-9911-301930d1b1be\"><!--[if lte IE 8]><div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div><![endif]--><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/2725694\/3350a795-db50-482f-9911-301930d1b1be\" ><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" id=\"hs-cta-img-3350a795-db50-482f-9911-301930d1b1be\" style=\"border-width:0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/2725694\/3350a795-db50-482f-9911-301930d1b1be.png\"  alt=\"Contact Us today!\"\/><\/a><\/span><script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> hbspt.cta.load(2725694, '3350a795-db50-482f-9911-301930d1b1be', {\"useNewLoader\":\"true\",\"region\":\"na1\"}); <\/script><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code -->\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"904\" height=\"931\" src=\"https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Free-server-checkup.png\" alt=\"guy server checkup\" class=\"wp-image-12943 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Free-server-checkup.png 904w, https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Free-server-checkup-291x300.png 291w, https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Free-server-checkup-768x791.png 768w, https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Free-server-checkup-585x602.png 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 904px) 100vw, 904px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This guide explains how to upgrade your Linux kernel from version 2.6.32 to 3.2.71 by compiling and installing it manually from source. Step 1: Install Required Dependencies Before compiling the&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":16944,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-miscellaneous"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1578"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1578\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16945,"href":"https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1578\/revisions\/16945"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.supportpro.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}