When Installing A Newer Kernel...

• Check the file 'Documentation/Changes' in the source directory, for packages that might need upgrading before booting the new kernel.
• Don't configure the new kernel from scratch - copy your previous kernel's '.config' file to the new kernel's source directory, and run make oldconfig - you will only need to answer questions about new features.
• If you used a distribution's kernel previously, it normally has a config file matching the installed kernel.
• On RedHat, this file is usually under /boot/config-<version>

Originally written by guy keren