COMP3037 - Laboratory 1
This laboratory should take you less than 3 hours to complete. Make
sure you ask your tutor for help if you get stuck.
Installing Linux
Follow the N110 lab instructions on the
COMP3037 web site for recovering the machine. You may choose to either
install from scratch or to just "sync filesystems" with the master.
kernel source code
Have a look at the kernel source code in /usr/src/linux. Try to find
the point in the code that writes out the contents of /proc/cpuinfo
when you ask for it.
tags
Look at the man page for ctags (if you use vi) or etags (if you use
emacs). Run a tags program on the kernel sources and then use your
editor to find the definition of the function sys_unlink(). What does
this function do?
Compiling/installing the kernel
Modify the kernel sources to add your name to the contents of
/proc/cpuinfo. Then build the kernel using the command "make
bzImage". You may wish to get on with some of the homework exercises
while waiting for the compile to finish (it will take about 15
minutes).
After the build is complete try to find the resulting bzImage
file. Then copy that file to /boot/vmlinuz.test and run the command
"lilo". Then reboot, choosing the "test" kernel at the lilo
prompt. Did your modification work?
dont_delete
Modify the kernel source code so that it is impossible to delete a
file called "dont_delete". Compile your kernel (that should be fast
this time as most of it hasn't changed) and see if your change
worked.
scp
Use scp or rsync/ssh to transfer the files you modified in the kernel
sources to your Solaris student account. Why should you not use ftp?
homework
Do the homework exercises from the first 3 lectures. You can use
netscape to view them on the web site.