You should be in /usr/src/linux-2.6** (the new directory). Before you start, you need to clean your configuration directories. (We’ll simply assume you have run previous kernel compiles.) Type:
make mrproper
Also, open the Makefile in a text editor and find the config value EXTRAVERSION. This configuration option lets assign a version number to your own build, so that it will build in a differently-numbered directory (and so it won’t clobber your original kernel build files).
If you’re compiling a kernel of the same version as your existing one, for instance because you’re doing some fine tuning, run the command:
make oldconfig
Now, you can use any of three other make commands to start configuring your kernel.
make config
will start a text-based config tool that can run on almost any Linux system. If this is your first time around, this is not the friendliest tool. But you can count on it being present. Note that the linear process is fixed: you can’t go back and change a previous choice. Try this some time when you feel masochistic.
make menuconfig
runs a text-based, menu-driven interface that lets you move around in the config process. If you’re doing this process from a remote terminal, for instance, it’s a good choice.
make xconfig # in KDI
or
make gconfig # in Gnome
provides a slick GUI interface. It requires Xwindows and a properly installed qt development package. If you didn’t choose to install the Xwindows development packages during your initial Fedora installation you are likely to be unable to use this method. Don’t worry; menuconfig is a very good interface.