Hi: I have posted this to debian-boot, but someone has also suggested that I post to debian-kernel as well. So far, I have had no response from debian-boot . . ..
I have three driver modules that need to be loaded into both the installer kernel (the one that is used by the installer when it first boots) and the installed kernel. These drivers are for disk drives that are not currently supported in the 2.6 kernel used by Debian Sarge (this is selected when you type 'linux26' at the first boot prompt when you insert CD #1 of the Sarge CD set. I am not in a position where I can tell someone to use a netinst CD and go after the testing or unstable distributions. I need to be able to hand someone the Sarge CD set and a Driver Update CD. Some of my customers may be without Internet access, therefore I have to be totally self contained. I fully understand that the testing / unstable distributions will be based on the 2.6.11 or 2.6.12 kernels which should already have the drivers. This situation strictly applies to my customers who install the stable (Sarge) release and needs the drivers. Based on some answers you have given to me, it appears that I need to come up with a udeb package for the three module files (.ko) files that I need to load (or perhaps three separate udeb packages). I also need to come up with a regular .deb file that can be installed into the running kernel after it is installed. I also understand that the kernel that the installer first boots up on is not the same as the kernel that is installed on the final system. I tried Googling, but I have had very little luck. Where can I get information on building udebs against the installer/installer kernel that is used in the stable (Sarge) release? I presume as these are driver packages that I will also need the source for the version of the kernel that is used as well. Or is the installer kernel the same as the running kernel (the 2.6.8-2-386 for Debian Sarge, with different .config files? If so, where do I get the different .config files? If it is different, where do I get the sources? Once I make the udeb package files, how do I put them on a Driver Update CD? Is there any special structure for that CD or floppy? I greatly appreciate any help. Mark
