How to Install the Kernels in this directory

by RoboSavy. Last Update: May 2nd 2012

1. This tutorial assumes you have already successfully installed the OS on your DMP device (Roboard or eBox).
   If you're looking for O/S installation instructions please see the eBox or Roboard websites or the RoboSavvy forum for DMP devices.
    
2. If this is the first time you installed the OS, the OS default kernels usually don't have network access until you install a DMP kernel. Therefore we recommend you download the kernel file using another machine, put it on a PEN drive a copy it to the target machine (Roboard, Ebox, etc.) and then follow these instructions.
   This document does not aim to indicate which kernel file you should use for your device. To find out which kernel is appropriate for your device you should check the eBox or Roboard websites or the RoboSavvy forum.
   Once you have downloaded the kernel file onto a PEN drive, insert the PEN drive on your DMP device (eBox / Roboard) and follow the steps bellow.

Important: Kernel DEB packages must be installed through the command line as explained bellow. Attempting to install the DMP kernel through a Graphical Package Manager it will not work.
 

Boot the eBox / Roboard and open a Console window. Next type the following commands:
 
# sudo su

# dpkg -i [kernel file].deb

# update-initramfs -k [Kernel suffix] -c

For example for file:
   linux-image-2.6.34.10-vortex86-sg_1.2_i386.deb
the command would be:
   update-initramfs -k 2.6.34.10-vortex86-sg -c


To complete the process you need to run the following command:

# update-grub


Finally, Reboot the device

Checking the Correct Kernel is Loaded:

After rebooting you can check which kernel is loaded by opening a Console window and typing:

# uname -r

If the loaded kernel is not the one you just installed you may need to adjust the settings on your bootloader (please continue reading).
If the correct kernel is loaded you can stop here.

Explaining how to change which kernel is loaded on boot is beyond the purpose of this tutorial; we will only provide some tips bellow about how to do this on systems using GRUB2.
For other bootloaders we suggest that you Google by "[your distribution name] kernel selection timeout".

 
For systems with GRUB2 bootloader (used in Ubuntu 10.04 for example), you can select which Kernel to boot or configure the GRUB2 menu to appear on boot by doing one these procedures:

• You can press and hold SHIFT (or sometimes ESC) during boot to bring up the Kernel Selection menu (this doesn't always work from our experience).
   
• Alternatively, edit the file /etc/default/grub and make the following adjustments
  • Comment the line GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=XX (if it exists) by putting a "#" behind it (i.e. make it #GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=XX)

  • Comment the line GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=XX (if it exists) by putting a "#" behind it (i.e. make it #GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=XX )

  • Edit (or add if it does not exist) GRUB_TIMEOUT=XX seconds. replace XX by the number of seconds you want the kernel selection Menu to be displayed. A value between 5 and 10 is recommended.
     

  • OPTIONALLY - and we recommend this for advanced users ONLY - you can change which image is loaded by default by changing the line GRUB_DEFAULT=XX. Replace XX by the index of the kernel. The index is the order in which the Kernels are listed and starts counting at 0 (so if you set it to 2, it would boot by default the 3rd option of the GRUB menu).
     

  • To finalize and commit the changes, save the file and go to the command prompt and type:
    
    # sudo su
    # update-grub
    
    Reboot.