With Linux Kernel 2.6.32 around the corners I see some guru's suggesting users to recompile their own kernels for a dozen of reasons: performance, fast booting, support of some esoteric drivers, bla... bla...

Some rock solid advices which can do wonders for you.

Tips and tricks to improve ssh usage: key strength, agent, OTP, knocking...

You don't need a PhD in computer science and years of experience to hack the kernel. We asked prolific kernel hacker (and Linux Format reader!) Greg Kroah-Hartman to tell us what it takes for newbies to patch the Linux kernel - here's what he had to say...

Although Linux is frequently referred to by the names of various distributions, what can properly be called “Linux” is really the management part of the operating system known as the kernel which interacts with the computer’s hardware. Here’s how the kernel works in Ubuntu, and how to rebuild it.

When you are new to Linux you often seek to get help from others and almost most of the advices you get will be in the form of some commands such as ps, top, modprobe, lspci etc. Be careful when you run these commands as some Anti-Linux a**holes try to fool new Linux users in the name of tips and tutorials.If after following such command(s), you lose all your files, no one is to be blamed but you.

As of this writing, the current kernel prepatch is 2.6.34-rc6. A couple more prepatches are most likely due before the final release, but the number of changes to be found there should be small. In other words, 2.6.34 is close to its final form, so it makes sense to take a look at what has gone into this development cycle. In a few ways, 2.6.34 is an unusual kernel.

When listening to others talk about GNU/Linux it always strikes me as odd the argument that is used. That the Linux kernel was made usable by the marriage of the GNU tool set to it so therefor it should be called GNU/Linux as it is a blending of the two and Linux is only the kernel. On the face of it this argument makes sense ... if one doesn't think about it too deeply.

How many times have you installed Linux only to have something happen which required a re-install? Or you get a machine up and running the way you want it and then you want to re-create the system on another machine? In either of these situations, the last thing you want to do is to have to remember all of the applications you installed and then spend the time installing them all again.