The best way to get 100% out of your operating system is to customize it at your very own needs. This is what this tutorial is all about. And since my favorite operating system is Linux :> I'm going to guide you on how building your onw kernel.

You can either choose command line, text mode, or through X to run the configuration enviroment for customizing your kernel.

Assuming that /usr/src is not in your PATH variable you should type:

cd /usr/src/linux-x.x.xx
or
cd /usr/src/linux (this a directory usually linked to the latest version of kernel you have on your system)

then:

make config (command line)
or: make menuconfig (text mode menus)
or: make xconfig (through X)

Ooh! What the hell is that? Don't worry I had the same reaction myself first time I saw it. So here is where you can make things that none of Bill's Op.Sys. let you do. A heaven for every anarchist. You can customize your system however you like. Just be carefull - you should know what you do.

When you are done with that just click on Save and Exit option. If you want more help on a specific matter don't hesitate to e-mail me or - even better - make a question to a linux related mailing list.

After doing all the above the only left to do is compile it!

You type in that order:

make dep
(...meaning make dependencies)

make clean

make bzImage
(...making the image of kernel - zImage in older than 2.2.x kernels)

[NOTE: If you want the image to intalled in a floppy type: make bzdisk]

make modules

make modules_install
(...this will install modules you compiled in previous step under /lib/modules/x,y,z)

Copy the image you just made on your boot directory:

cp /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot/bzImage /boot/vmlinuz-new

and add the new kernel image to lilo.conf

vi /etc/lilo.conf
and add the lines:
image = /boot/vmlinuz-new
root = /dev/hdax
label = linux-new

Finally install the new lilo:

/sbin/lilo

You are ready. The only thing left is to reboot your computer. Maybe this is the first time realy need to do this!