Compiling system tools + on NetBSD 10 BETA with -HEAD tool and kernel source.

anarchosax

I have noticed what appears to be a serious hole in NetBSD documentation, so I thought that I would try to fill in as much as I can. Most of this is courtesy of rvp. My notes are incomplete, but they still appear to be the most systematic attempt at a howto on the subject. Please note that the reason my notes are incomplete, is I have run into trouble, so please feel free to contribute to this post to fill in the holes (and of course to my original thread as well), should you feel the urge. The one major caveat to the following notes, is that I have never compiled anything larger than ee (my favorite editor)...

Compiling on NetBSD

Add a separate user just for compiling:
(#) useradd -m -G wsrc -s /bin/sh -c "System Builder" -g =uid bld

Unpack source files:
(#) for f in /home/user/Downloads/*.tgz
do tar -C/ -xpf $f && echo $f.
done

Prepare the work directories:
(#) rm -rf /usr/obj /usr/tools
(#) install -d -m 775 -o root -g wsrc /usr/obj /usr/tools

Prepare CVS (only once is necessary). Note that "update -A" flag is used for -HEAD sources and omitted for -RELEASE/-STABLE :
$ cat > $HOME/.cvsrc <<\EoF
update -A -dP
rdiff -pu
diff -pu
cvs -q
EoF

Create new kernel configuration file:
$ cd /usr/src
$ cp sys/arch/amd64/conf/GENERIC sys/arch/amd64/conf/MYKERNEL

Edit and change the MYKERNEL configuration file as needed (search for AMDGPU ?}:
$ ee sys/arch/amd64/conf/MYKERNEL

Build tools once, then kernel. Remember to change “-j” (job) flag according to specific computer values. The values below refer to a computer CPU with 2 cores and 2 threads (plus 50 percent):
$ cd /usr/src
$ ./build.sh -j6 -N1 -M /usr/obj -T /usr/tools -U tools
$ ./build.sh -j6 -N1 -M /usr/obj -T /usr/tools -U kernel=MYKERNEL

I have run the following on my Huawei computer without lock up. dmesg reports that there are 11 CPUs and 6 cores:
$ cd /usr/src
$ ./build.sh -j20 -N1 -M /usr/obj -T /usr/tools -U tools

This should logically work as well, without a processor lock up...
$ ./build.sh -j20 -N1 -M /usr/obj -T /usr/tools -U -u kernel=MYKERNEL

Save GENERIC kernel (only once per computer):
(#) mv /netbsd /netbsd.GENERIC

Install new kernel:
(#) install -m 555 /usr/obj/usr/src/sys/arch/amd64/compile/MYKERNEL/netbsd /netbsd.new

Symlink “netbsd” to “netbsd.new” (once)
(#) cd /
(#) ln -sv netbsd.new netbsd

“To go back to the old kernel, simply point the symlink back to netbsd.GENERIC. (Be mindful of this when doing an upgrade.)

To do a clean kernel rebuild, first do rm -rf /usr/obj/*. Leave /usr/tools alone--unless the compiler sources have changed: check the cvs update output for this.” (rvp)

rvp

anarchosax Unpack source files:

This step should be done as root so that the files have the correct owner/group and permissions.

anarchosax Prepare CVS (only once is necessary):

I've updated this step slightly in the original post: the -A flag is used when updating the -HEAD sources. For -RELEASE/-STABLE you must omit it.

anarchosax Edit and change the MYKERNEL configuration file as needed (search for AMDGPU ?}:

radeon*         at pci? dev ? function ?
radeondrmkmsfb* at radeonfbbus?

#amdgpu*        at pci? dev ? function ?
#amdgpufb*      at amdgpufbbus?

Uncomment the amdgpu lines and comment out the 2 radeon ones.

anarchosax dmesg reports that there are 11 CPUs and 6 cores:

12 CPUs (6 * 2)--having an odd no. of CPUs (except for 1) would be...odd-- + 50% more = 18. But, 20 is a good round number for -j.
On your HW, the tools + kernel build should complete in ~10 mins. (Compiling GENERIC + tools takes more than an hour on my old laptop. Sigh...)

anarchosax

rvp This step should be done as root so that the files have the correct owner/group and permissions.

Edited.

rvp I've updated this step slightly in the original post: the -A flag is used when updating the -HEAD sources. For -RELEASE/-STABLE you must omit it.

Edited.

rvp On your HW, the tools + kernel build should complete in ₁₀ mins. (Compiling GENERIC + tools takes more than an hour on my old laptop. Sigh...)

Well, I have a fair amount of old hardware as well, so I have this experience to look forward to...

rvp

anarchosax Well, I have a fair amount of old hardware as well,

You can build their kernels too on this machine--this is one of the reasons why you need to build tools first. (The other reason is that you can build NetBSD on a completely different system: Linux, for instance.)

Assassink

you can compiling NetBSD on linux
here link if anyone want to try: https://www.cambus.net/cross-building-netbsd-on-linux/
i was able to compile NetBSD 10