3.2. Notes on building your own kernel

There are some things I would like to mention, although I won't go in details, as the Backstreet Ruby page on compiling the kernel discusses this topic.

1. You have to follow this order:

   Input support Virtual Terminal support Console drivers

   for all required options to be available/selectable.

2. You have to use built in input support:

   Input device support --> Input core support Input device support --> Mouse support

3. I would suggest you also include at least one keyboard (built in - not as a module). You can also use modules, but I find it safer to be able to use a keyboard instead of trying to find a PC with ssh (or something similar) to load the required modules.

   For AT/PS2 keyboards, turn on (not modules):

   Input device support --> Serial i/o support Input device support --> i8042 PC Keyboard controller Input device support --> Keyboards Input device support --> AT keyboard support

   For a USB keyboard turn on (not modules):

   Input device support --> Keyboards USB support --> support for USB USB support --> USB driver (probably usb-uhci.o) USB support --> USB Human Interface Device (full HID) support USB support --> HID input layer support

4. If you are new to Linux, do not try to patch an already patched kernel (heavily patched kernels like the ones that ship with most distributions). Use a kernel from www.kernel.org, and take a look at the Linux Kernel HOWTO.

Support for frame buffer devices is not back-ported, and is disabled.

As Backstreet Ruby lacks framebuffer support, you will most certainly need separate graphic card for each display. You won't be able to use dual-headed card with single BusID for 2 independent displays, but it might be possible in case the card has different BusId's for the different heads.