Linux 2.4.27 boot problem with compiled kernel

Hello

Hopefully someone can shed some light on this problem.

I'm quite familiar with compiling linux kernels, installing, etc (using
lilo).

However, linux/sparc uses silo/silo.conf.  I understand that it's not
necessary to run silo after installing a new kernel, but the new kernel
refuses to boot, ending up with (08:01 is /dev/sda1):

Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 08:01

This is a familiar problem on intel/linux if you don't run lilo before
rebooting - but what the heck am I missing here?

steps I took (kernel 2.4.27, Sun ULTRA Enterprise 2):
1. compile kernel with make dep...make vmlinux...etc (with ext3)
2. copy vmlinux binary to /vmlinux-2.4.27
3. edit /etc/silo.conf to point to new binary:

The second boot option below "Linux" boots OK (default from Splack CD).

#----------------------------------
message =3D /boot/boot_message.txt
timeout =3D 100
image =3D /vmlinux-2.4.27
   root =3D /dev/sda1
   label =3D Linux-2.4.27
   read-only
image =3D /vmlinux
   root =3D /dev/sda1
   label =3D Linux
   read-only
#----------------------------------

I also tried rdev /vmlinux-2.4.27 /dev/sda1.

All to no avail.

Any ideas before I re-use this machine as a doorstop?  Using Solaris is
not an option - we want to make use of it as part of a cluster using
openmosix.

Regards
Henry


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