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Whole document tree 4. Installing the AX.25/NET/ROM/ROSE softwareTo successfully install AX.25 support on your Linux system you must configure and install an appropriate kernel and then install the AX.25 utilities.
4.1. Compiling the kernelIf you are already familiar with the process of compiling the Linux kernel then you can skip this section, just be sure to select the appropriate options when compiling the kernel. If you are not, then read on. You may also want to read the Linux Kernel HOWTO. The normal place for the kernel source to be unpacked to is the /usr/src directory into a subdirectory called linux. To do this you should be logged in as root and execute a series of commands similar to the following:
After you have unpacked the kernel source, you need to run the configuration script and choose the options that suit your hardware configuration and the options that you wish built into your kernel. You do this by using the command:
If you are running X you can get a graphical interface using:
You might also try:
I'm going to describe the full screen method (menuconfig) because it is easier to move around, but use whichever you are most comfortable with. In either case you will be offered a range of options at which you must answer `Y' or `N'. (Note you may also answer `M' if you are using modules. For the sake of simplicity I will assume you are not, please make appropriate modifications if you are). The options most relevant to an AX.25 configuration are:
The options I have flagged with a `*' are those that you must must answer `Y' to. The rest are dependent on what hardware you have and what other options you want to include. Some of these options are described in more detail later on, so if you don't know what you want yet, then read ahead and come back to this step later. After you have completed the kernel configuration you should be able to cleanly compile your new kernel:
Make sure you move your arch/i386/boot/zImage file wherever you want it and then edit your /etc/lilo.conf file and rerun lilo to ensure that you actually boot from it. 4.1.1. A word about kernel modulesCompiling drivers as modules is useful if you only use AX.25 occasionally and want to be able to load and unload them on demand to save system resources. However, some people have problems getting the modularized drivers working because they are more complicated to configure. If you've chosen to compile any drivers as modules, then you'll also need to run the commands:
to install your modules in the appropriate location. You will also need to add some entries into your /etc/modules.conf file to ensure that the kerneld program knows how to locate the kernel modules. You should add/modify the following:
4.2. The AX.25 library, tools, and application programsAfter you have successfully compiled and booted your new kernel you need to compile and install the ax25 library, tools, and application programs. To compile and install libax25 you should use a series of commands similar to the following:
If this is a first time installation, that is you've never installed any ax25 code on your machine before, you should also use the:
command to install some sample configuration files into the /etc/ax25/ directory from which to work. You can now build install the AX.25 tools in a similar fashion:
And finally you can install the AX.25 applications:
If you get messages something like:
then you should double check that you have the ncurses package properly installed on your system. The configuration script attempts to locate your package in the common locations, but some installations have it badly installed and it is unable to locate them. |