Assuming your kernel source tree has been decompressed properly, and you created the correct symbolic link. Change to the new source directory.
cd /usr/src/linux
Clean the source tree. ( make clean )
Dig into the menuconfig for the kernel. ( make menuconfig ) The following kernel options must be set in order to boot your kernel over etherboot.
Under “Networking –> Networking options” :
[*] TCP/IP networking [*] IP: kernel level autoconfiguration [*] IP: DHCP support [*] IP: BOOTP support
Under “File systems” :
[*] Second extended fs support [ ] Ext2 extended attributes [ ] Ext2 execute in place support
[*] Ext3 journalling file system support [*] Ext3 extended attributes [ ] Ext3 POSIX Access Control Lists [ ] Ext3 Security Labels
Under “File systems –> Network File Systems” :
[*] NFS file system support [*] Provide NFSv3 client support [*] Root file system on NFS
Compiling the ext2 and ext3 file systems into the kernel, rather than modules makes sense for now. I am uncertain if one could ever compile ext2 as a module and still boot due to the initramfs.
The above options are not the only thing you will need to get your nodes up and booting.
You will need motherboard specific modules, for the computer you will be booting. An easy way to get a list is to boot a gentoo install cd, or another system that you trust. Once in the shell, get a list of loaded modules. ( lsmod ) Write down the list in use. Then deselect any modules you do not need, making sure you have selected the modules that you do need.
