[Nix-dev] Switching the default kernel in configuration.nix

[Tony White]

2009/4/10 Lluís Batlle <viriketo at gmail.com>:
> For the kernel I use in 'boot':
> kernelPackages = pkgs.kernelPackages_2_6_28;
>
> 2009/4/10 Tony White <tonywhite100 at googlemail.com>:
>> I'd like to learn how to switch the default kernel from 2.6.25 please.
>> I've tried changing the option in configuration.nix but without
>> success. I think I'm missing something but can't see what.
>

Wile that did have the desired effect and many thanks for that, I've
exposed a possible issue in the configuration for the 2.6.28.9 kernel.
The short story is it won't boot here.
The reason is that pae has been enabled in processor type & features
in the kernel's config.
The upshot for me is that I get a "This kernel requires the following
features not present on the cpu : pae
unable to boot

Please use a kernel option appropriate for you cpu." Message an no booting.

So if this kernel is supposed to be configured to be as generic as
possible for i686 machines, pae needs to be disabled in the kernel's
configuration.

All this means to me is that I need to build a kernel using nix
myself, Which shouldn't be a problem, I'm good at building kernels
from source, Especially the configuration part.

The only issues in my mind are how to switch to the new kernel now
after I've built it.
I'll be going for latest stable 2.6.29.1 and I would like to run
vanilla, Which means I don't want fbcondecor or any other patches if
possible.

I'll look at how the existing kernel is being built and I suppose if I
run into trouble, I can just build 2.6.28.9 again without pae but it's
the adding to top-level all-packages.nix and the switching to the new
kernel in configuration.nix that I'm interested in getting right.
So if there are any pointers on what's important to ensure is set in
those two files or how to set my kernel builds to be default without
me needing to anything major, That would really help.

Thanks,

Tony