Notes on Updating to Kernel 2.2.x

Here are some notes that I've found useful, in helping my Linux system work in a much nicer way, ever since I installed Kernel 2.2.12-20. The distribution of my choice is RedHat 6.1 currently, and just in case of problems, make sure you're running the latest version of RedHat.
 

• Printers
• /etc/printcap has to be changed to use /dev/lp0 instead of /dev/lp1. It has been said that obsolete DOS numbering was to be done away with, and Linux wants to begin with 0 instead of 1.
• In RedHat, the printer may not print, and even printtool cannot fix it. Adding a line in the /etc/conf.modules that says alias parport_lowlevel parport_pc will do the trick it seems.
• For modems, et al, that utilise the serial port, /dev/ttySx (where x is an integer) is the new standard. /dev/cuax is no longer in use, so the kernel must be updated to use the newer /dev/ttySx.
• /dev/ttypx has been dropped in the newer kernel. It has been replaced with /dev/ptyx and /dev/ttyx, hence forcing creating newer entries.
• The once partition limit for swap being limited to 128MB has been removed. The swap file can be bigger now, but util-linux's mount and mkswap has to be updated. However, if you have more than 128MB physical RAM, the chance of swap usage is minimal (I have 160MB and I never use any swap.)
• Ctrl+Alt+Del reverts to a cold boot, if run by any user.