Users Guide

Installing Managed System Software on Supported Linux Operating Systems 87

Determining the Running Kernel

root

Type the following command at a console and press <Enter>:

uname -r

The system displays a message identifying the running kernel.

Dynamic Kernel Support Prerequisites

For managed system software to use DKS, the following dependencies must

be met before starting Server Administrator.

• The running kernel must have loadable module support enabled.

• The source for building kernel modules for the running kernel must be

available from

/lib/modules/`uname –r`/build

. On systems running SUSE

Linux Enterprise Server, the

kernel-source

RPM provides the necessary

kernel source. On systems running Red Hat Enterprise Linux, the

kernel -

devel

RPMs provide the necessary kernel source for building kernel

modules.

• The GNU make utility must be installed. The

make

RPM provides this

utility.

• The GNU C compiler (gcc) must be installed. The

gcc

RPM provides this

compiler.

• The GNU linker (ld) must be installed. The

binutils

RPM provides this

linker.

When these prerequisites have been met, DKS will automatically build a

device driver when needed during Server Administrator startup.

Using Dynamic Kernel Support After Server Administrator Installation

To enable Server Administrator to support a kernel that is not supported by

a precompiled device driver and is loaded after Server Administrator has been

installed, perform the following steps: Ensure that the DKS prerequisites are

met on the system to be managed and boot the new kernel on the system.

Server Administrator builds a device driver for the kernel running on the

system the first time that Server Administrator starts after the kernel is loaded.

By default, Server Administrator starts during system startup.