Linux kernel

The kernel is the core piece of the Linux operating system.

• Current (stable version): 2.6.20.3 (2007-03-13)[1]

Resources

The kernel manages the resources of the Linux OS; such as the following:

• File management
• Multitasking
• Memory management
• I/O management
• Process management: /proc/
• Device management: /dev/
• Networking support (including IPv4 and IPv6)
• Virtual memory, shared libraries, demand loading, etc.

The kernel decides who will use these resources, for how long, and when.

Rebuilding kernel from SRPM

Note: some of the paths below include $TOPDIR, which is distribution-dependent and can be further redefined by user. To find out the proper location on your system, issue this command:

rpm --eval "%{_topdir}"

See also

• Linux

External links

• kernel.org
• Mandriva Kernel Update
• How To Install and Update A Redhat Linux Kernel RPM
• Preparing your Mandriva kernel source
• {http://wiki.openvz.org/Kernel_build Kernel build] — by openvz.org
• KernelNewbies