Kernel patch

1
Kernel patch

• 8.1.06

2

• Patch creation
• Many sources on the web.
• One example
• http//www.linuxchix.org/content/courses/kernel_ha
  cking/lesson9

3

• Patch is a file describing differences between
  two files.
• diff command is used to create the patch file
• patch command is used to apply patch files
  changes on old file.
• See
• info diff
• man diff(1)
• man patch(1)

4

• Example
• File 1 ./new/file.txt
• File 2 ./old/file.txt
• diff uNr old new gtpatchfile
• cd ./old
• patch p1 lt ../patchfile
• old/file.txt is now the same as new/file.txt

5
Creating kernel patch

• Changed kernel and original vanilla kernel must
  reside in same directory before diffing.
• Do not ever create a patch with uneven
  directories
• Make sure your changed kernel does not include
  unneccery files (objects, backups, etc)
• make mrproper will remove most of these files but
  forces you to recompile all kernel
• diff -uNr linux.vanilla linux.new gt patchfile

6

• You think you've got it right?
• Apply it to a a copy of original source tree
• don't ruin your only copy of the original source
  tree.
• If it doesn't apply without any errors, redo the
  patch.

7
Remember !!!

• before submission try and apply the patch to a
  clean kernel - verify that it works. !!!