[syslinux] Where to obtain (how to build) small enough workable kernel?

[Charles Hymes]

Hi folks,

I'd have guessed that would be a very FAQ but I could find no mention on http://syslinux.zytor.com.
The latest version of syslinux leaves 860 kb on a 1.44 meg floppy.
The current 2.6 vmlinux from Redhat is 3.3 meg. I downloaded kernel-BOOT-2.4.20-27.8.i386.rpm from red hat, as this is a kernel they "recommend" from booting from floppy. In the boot dir of this rpm I find:

 329824 Dec 11 10:40 System.map-2.4.20-27.8BOOT
  54321 Dec 11 10:40 config-2.4.20-27.8BOOT
2121837 Dec 11 10:40 vmlinux-2.4.20-27.8BOOT
 852345 Dec 11 10:40 vmlinuz-2.4.20-27.8BOOT

I don't REALLY know which is the kernel to boot from. I'd guess vmlinuz*, but it has an unexpected name, which means had tweaking config files. Even if it was, I'd have no idea what to do with the given config* file, or how to provide the "initrd(s), etc" as spelled out in step 4 of syslinux.doc.

Obviously, I'm not a Linux guru, but I'm experienced enough to know that I don't want to go through a long cycle of trial-and-error configuring, building and testing tiny kernels.

Doesn't anyone distribute a good floppy-sized kernel and configs that works well with syslinux? If a kernel binary is problematic, then the .cfg file for building (along with the mysterious initrd(s)) would probably be enough.

Heck, If you guys help me out, I can zip the whole thing up and host it myself.

Thanks!

Charles