[GRLUG] Kernel help

[Colin Vallance]

Not having compiled kernels before, I was hoping someone might be able  
to lend me some insight.  Here's what I've got going.

I am building a firewall/router/ap out of an old watchguard firebox  
700.  I am using pyramid linux (http://pyramid.metrix.net/trac/)as my  
distribution due to it's small stature and default read only booting  
(everything lives on a flash card).  While Pyramid is based on ubuntu,  
it does not have dpkg or apt-get so any compiling needs to be done on  
another system.  I have a ubuntu server setup with the pyramid kernel  
and config for compiling anything I might need to.  So far I have  
successfully compiled a tulip network driver on this box as a kernel  
module, moved it over, loaded it, and got my 3 other nics up.

What I'm having trouble with presently is compiling a whole kernel to  
suit some needs.  Those needs are the following:
	1. Add the tulip network driver (in kernel, not module) and remove  
all other unnecessary ones
	2. Add kernel support for APM real mode.  (The box does not reboot  
when I ask it to, I'm hoping this will fix that)

Ok, so...

Not having really compiled full kernels before, what is the "proper"  
method for doing this?  I've tried the following:
	
copy config file to source dir
make clean
make menuconfig (selecting my two requirements in addition to the  
preset config file)
make
Also tried make bzimage
scp kernel to firebox
add line in menu.lst, reboot and select new kernel.

This generally leads me this type of error:

  Booting 'Bzimage'

root (hd0,0)
  Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0x83
kernel /boot/bzImage root=/dev/hda1 console=ttys0,19200n8 reboot=bios

Error 18: Selected cylinder exceeds maximum supported by BIOS


So, does anyone have any suggestions or anything obvious that I'm  
doing wrong?  Again, I'm a first timer with a kernel so it may be  
something really stupid that I just don't know.  I appreciate any help  
but I'm really looking for help going down the path that I'm headed,  
not "try this distro" or "why don't you just install XXX".  I do want  
this functional eventually but the project itself is more about  
learning for me so I'm trying not to jump ship when things get  
difficult.

Thanks in advance!

-Colin
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