[gentoo-user] Re: Kernel upgrading and linux symlink

[Nikos Chantziaras <realnc@arcor.de>]

On 10/31/2009 08:09 PM, Harry Putnam wrote:
> Nikos Chantziaras<realnc@arcor.de>  writes:
>
>> The link is created only if you have the "symlink" USE flag enabled.
>>
>> Also, "Gentoo requires that the [...] symbolic link points to the
>> sources of the kernel you are running" is not entirely correct.  It is
>> required only when you want to build something against that
>> kernel.
>
>> . . . .  Obviously, you need to create the symlink if you want to build
>> the newly installed kernel, even though the system is still running an
>> older one.
>
> Why is that obvious?  That's what seemed confusing to me.

How obvious it is probably depends in prior knowledge here.  There's 
absolutely nothing in a running system that needs anything from 
/usr/src/linux.  If fact, you could, completely uninstall all kernel 
sources and totally wipe out /usr/src.  It's only needed when you build 
something that needs kernel sources.

Of course if you didn't know that, then yes, it's not obvious :)