problems extracting kernel file

[Midiean]

I am trying to update my kernel from 2.2 to 2.6. My problem comes when i try to extract the archive bc2 and gz files. I am using the command

tar -xjvf patch-2.6.0.bc2
tar -xzvf patch-2.6.0.gz

and i'm receiving wierd errors. They are listed below and are identical for both files.

tar (child): v: Cannot open: No such file or directory
tar (child): Error is not recoverable: exiting now
tar: Child returned status 2
tar: patch-2.6.0.gz: Not found in archive
tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors

This is a debian system that is a new install. Tried to keep it as stripped down as possible since it will be a mail server and I want to keep as much room available as possible and keep extranious applications from running for security and processor utilization reasons.

Thanks for any help

 

[Midiean]

I took off the v and i get the following error

tar: This does not look like a tar archive
tar: Skipping to next header
tar: Archive contains obsolescent base-64 headers
tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors

does there seem to be a problem with the files them selves? They were downloaded on a windows system an placed on floppy for the move. No network is available, which is the reason for the update.

 

[danomac]

It's possible that it is just a gzip archive. Some sources do not create a tarball that is compressed by gzip.

Try `gzip -d patch-2.6.0.gz` in its own directory and see if that extracts it.

 

[Midiean]

that would be the problem, thanks

 

[Midiean]

does a kernel update need to be done incrementally or is it an inclusive patch from say 2.2 to 2.6 or do i need to go through all updates to bring it current?

 

[danomac]

It should be an inclusive patch with all related updates.

 

[flebber]

HI I am getting the same error as Mid iean I tried to use the gzip -d command however it didn't extract it this is what I am receiving

flebber:/usr/src# gzip -d linux-2.6.11.tar
flebber:/usr/src# cd linux-2.6.11
bash: cd: linux-2.6.11: No such file or directory
flebber:/usr/src# tar xjf linux-2.6.11.tar
bzip2: (stdin) is not a bzip2 file.
tar: Child returned status 2
tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors
flebber:/usr/src# gzip -d patch-2.6.11.gz
gzip: patch-2.6.11.gz: No such file or directory

 

[danomac]

What is the extension of the archive?

.tar = use tar xvf <file>
.tar.gz = use tar zxvf <file>
.tar.bz2 = use tar jxvf <file>
.gz = use gzip -d <file>
.bz2 = use bzip2 -d <file>