Compile new kernel for SPLAT (R65)?

[stevecs]

Ok, I want to compile a new kernel (2.4.35.1) for splat R62/R65 to get some driver fixes et al. Does anyone know what distribution is the base of splat R62/R65? So I can grab the right compilers/libraries et al on a test compile machine?

before anyone asks, YES, I know this is not going to be supported by checkpoint. Frankly, I'm tired of waiting on their support to fix some things so I'm testing on my own.

[Thorpuse]

The kernel is GPL, so you need to contact Check Point and get the GPL kernel sources (there used to be an FTP link for it, don't remember it anymore). You will need to recompile from this.

Seriously though, use CP support for this - send them the driver details that you get during the boot process along with links to the drivers you need and the boffins in R&D will do it for you, and support it. They're pretty good about this stuff, generally, once you get to talking to the right people. For something like this, raise the ticket and call them to get it escalated. If you don't chase with a call, your ticket will lag for something like this.

[stevecs]

I have the sources already (The Linux Kernel Archives). All I was looking to find out is what distro is used as the base as I like to compile new kernels in the same environment as they would be running in.

Checkpoint support has historically been, lacking, in things like this, even with premium support. Heck it took 4+ months to get a kernel driver for a 10GbE card when intel already had the drivers for 2.4.x in public domain. For things like this I'd rather do it myself.

[Thorpuse]

Originally Posted by stevecs

I have the sources already (The Linux Kernel Archives).

No you don't. SPLAT's kernel is based on the standard kernel, but they do their own developments and tweaks and then recompile, which is why standard linux drivers that require kernel recompilation don't work. I'd call CP support and work with them on this (or talk to your local SE), because I imagine you're going to waste an awful lot of time on this for no appreciable gain otherwise.

[chillyjim]

You can also just use a supported version of Red Hat.

[stevecs]

Thorpuse-
Ok, don't want to argue it. I doubt they do much more than back-port some modules if they did they wouldn't let you run it under a standard red-hat kernel/install (it wouldn't work if they needed a custom kernel).

Regardless I will test that myself, I was just looking for information as to what base distribution/release was used, if no-one knows I'll start back-tracking at redhat's site.

As for contacting checkpoint, I have. From your statements I can probably gather that you haven't dealt with them much for issues that 99.99% of the people running their code would call them on. Or you have been _very_ lucky. For the past 10 years I haven't been so fortunate.

chilyjim- Thanks that's the path I'm going to have to take unless I can match a couple md5's on the libraries.

[Thorpuse]

Originally Posted by stevecs

As for contacting checkpoint, I have. From your statements I can probably gather that you haven't dealt with them much for issues that 99.99% of the people running their code would call them on. Or you have been _very_ lucky. For the past 10 years I haven't been so fortunate.

A couple of years ago I needed to get access to the sources for a customer - Check Point Support gave me a link to an FTP site, problem solved. They are required by the terms of the GPL to provide this, There's a bit of a black art to getting results with CP support, but if you work with them and know how to jump through the hoops to get to the escalation engineers, then you can get results pretty effectively. That's what I've learnt in my 10 years of dealing with them...

Faling that, your local friendly SE should be able to help out. Those guys do great work, and can usually ask the questions you need through internal channels as well as the more traditional ones.