Compiling kernel for Multi-VM(host-vm)

To compile a kernel for use in a multi-VM environment (such as a host VM), you'll typically follow these steps:

1. **Start with a base kernel configuration**: Choose or create a suitable kernel configuration that includes the necessary features for your multi-VM setup. This might include virtualization support, network drivers, and other relevant modules.

2. **Prepare the source code**: Clone or download the Linux kernel sources from the official repository. For example, if using kernel 3.10, refer to the `kernel 3.10` makefile analysis[^2], which may contain options like `CONFIG_STRIP_ASM_SYMS` for stripping assembly symbols for smaller size.

3. **Configure the kernel**: Run `make menuconfig` or `make defconfig` to set up the build configuration according to your requirements. Ensure you enable any necessary options for virtual machine support, such as KVM or Xen.

4. **Compile the kernel**:

   make vmlinux      # Compiles the unstripped vmlinux binary

If you want a smaller image, consider:

   make bzImage     # Builds the compressed bzImage for better performance

5. **Create initramfs**: Since you're dealing with a host-VM, an initial RAM disk (`initrd`) might be required for booting. Use `make initramfs` to generate this file.

6. **Combine vmlinux and initrd**: Depending on your bootloader setup, you may need to create a combined image (e.g., `uImage` for U-Boot) that contains both the vmlinux and initrd data. For U-Boot, you'd modify the `uImage` tag accordingly[^4].

7. **Deploy the kernel**: Copy the compiled kernel and initramfs to the appropriate locations within the host-VM's boot partition or firmware configuration.

8. **Test the boot process**: Boot the host-VM and verify that the new kernel boots successfully and can handle multiple VMs.

Remember to tailor your build process based on your specific needs and the hardware architecture of the host and guest VMs.