Here in this post, I will explain how to compile and install Linux Kernel 3.1.1 in Fedora 16. I have also used the exact same procedure for compiling the kernel for fedora 17 - kernel 3.5.1.

To compile Linux Kernel the following are required to be installed:

• gcc latest version,
• ncurses development package
• and system packages should be up-to date

To install the dependencies run the following commands:

For gcc

$ sudo yum install gcc

For ncurses development package

$ sudo yum install ncurses-devel

After installing the above

$ sudo yum update

Next download the linux kernel version you want to compile from: http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ In this howto, I used 3.1.1 and ran the command:

wget kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/linux-3.1.1.tar.gz

Once the download is complete move to the directory where you have downloaded the kernel package “linux-3.1.1.tar.gz“.

Now extract the tar file to the location “/usr/src/“. To extract the tar file run the following command.

sudo tar -xvf linux-3.1.1.tar.gz -C /usr/src/

Now move to the directory where the extracted file is, or copy and paste the below command in terminal.  

To Configure

sudo make menuconfig

The above command is used to configure the Linux kernel. Once you execute the command, you will get a pop up window with the list of menus and you can select the items for the new configuration. If your unfamiliar with the configuration just check for the file systems menu and check whether ext4 is chosen or not, if not select it and save the configuration. 

Now run the following:

sudo make
sudo make modules_install install

Now reboot and choose the kernel version you just installed.  Note that if it is not first in the list, and perhaps it is the second option then you can run the following commands: