[wellylug] Debian kernel builders?

Pete Black pete at marchingcubes.com
Fri Oct 29 22:20:44 NZDT 2004


Kernel headers are used to enable modules to be built when there is no 
configured kernel source tree present.

The kernel source (once make config/make dep has been run), completely 
replaces the headers provided by a kernel-headers package.

You can actually have issues with kernel-headers installed, since 
normally /usr/include/linux is a symlink into the kernel source tree, 
and /usr/include/asm too i believe. - kernel and module compiles 
complain and break when the include files it finds in these folders do 
not match the kernel version to be compiled. i.e. if for some reason, 
the kernel source doesnt properly overwrite or repoint these include 
file locations.

Many modules refuse to compile without a proper kernel source tree 
present anyway, so it is good practice to use the 'real mccoy' whenever 
possible. Of course, i am a 'you can pry my custom-configured kernel 
from my cold dead hands' kind of guy, so YMMV on this point.


Hope that helps to explain what kernel headers are.

-Pete



Kernel source




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