It's really easy:


1. First, install the kernel-source.rpm
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1.1. From your Installation Source

You can just use the kernel on your installation source. Depends on what
you want to do. If you like to test a specific patch this might be sufficient.

1.2. Get the latest SuSE Kernel

You might want to make sure you have the latest sources of your product.
Check here to get the very latest SUSE kernel, which is nearly the same
as the last official Linus -rcX or even -gitX kernel:
ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/projects/kernel/kotd/HEAD/
If you compile the kernel yourself and you get the kernel-source.rpm, the
architecture does not really matter, it depends on which .config compile
options file you use later.

1.3. Get the latest SuSE Kernel of your Product

If you want to test the latest kernel of your specific product, try e.g.:
ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/projects/kernel/kotd/SL102_BRANCH/
ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/projects/kernel/kotd/SLES10_SP1_BRANCH/
ftp://ftp.suse.com/pub/projects/kernel/kotd/SLES9_SP4_BRANCH/
These kernels (binary or source ones) contain the very latest bugfixes and
check-ins. If you opened a bug on bugzilla.novell.com, people might ask you
to test and verify whether things work for you now.

2. Optionally patch the Kernel
------------------------------

E.g. if you have been asked to test a specific modification, you should have
receivced a patch file. This one simply marks which changes need to be done
on the sources in plain text format. To apply the changes open a shell and do:

  - cd /usr/src/linux
  - patch --dry-run -p1 -i /tmp/path_to_the_file.patch
  - If above command worked out nice, do the same without the --dry-run option:
    patch -p1 -i /tmp/path_to_the_file.patch
    If above command threw any sever errors (offset can be ignored, fuzz mostly
    is harmless, everything else is sever) you have a problem. The done
    modifications do not exactly fit to the kernel version you installed.
    Ask the guy from whom you got the patch on which kernel version he exactly
    worked on.

3. Do the Compile and install the new Kernel
--------------------------------------------

This can take more than half an hour, depends on your machine.
Open a shell and do:

  - cd /usr/src/linux
  - cp arch/x86_64/defconfig.default .config
    #(e.g. to build a kernel for the x86_64 architecture with the "-default"
    flavour)
  - make     (if you have a multi CPU core system you might want to pass
    -j X option, see man make)
  - If everything succeeded install the kernel and the modules:
    make install modules_install
    and create an initrd:
    cd /boot
    mkinitrd -k vmlinuz-2.6.X-default -i initrd-2.6.X-default
  - Open your boot loader configuration and let it load the newly installed
    kernel on next reboot (default: grub on i386/x86_64, elilo on IA64):
    vi /boot/grub/menu.lst
    Best is you add a new entry to have a your old kernel as fallback kernel
    if the newly compiled does not boot
    Also see "info grub" if you need more help