Running 2.6.6 on SuSE 9.0 Pro here... with no problems.
1) Also get the latest module-init-tools from kernel.org 2) Untar the modules-init-tools in /usr/src/ and do the configure with --prefix=/ and read the notes before installing. There is (I think) a note about the first time you load the tools and it will rename and save your original copies of lsmod, depmod, etc. 3) Untar the kernel into /usr/src and cd into the new directory for the kernel. 4) make mrproper (once) 5) to make up your .config file, you either get one from your current system (not recommended) or start fresh using make xconfig or make menuconfig etc 6) make clean; make bzImage, make modules; make modules_install 7) Copy the new bzImage to /boot/vmlinuz.266 (or some other unique name) 8) Make a new set of boot lines in /boot/grub/menu.lst to boot the new kernel, leaving your old lines intact for retreat. 9) reboot
NOTE: I always bake the things needed at boot time (fs, scsi controllers, etc) into the kernel so I never have to worry about initrd. If you don't do this, you will have to make a new initrd using mk_initrd.
Your hardest task will be selecting options for the .config. Things usually forgotten include proper hardware coverage IDE, SATA, SCSI, NIC etc and all the desired filesystems.....
Once you do one kernel, you're all set for life for the most part. Have fun.
I've had to go to the 2.6.7-rc2 kernel in order to get PCMCIA working on a Comapaq R3140 laptop. I lost the touch pad (ALPS, no longer seen in /proc/bus/input/devices) and need to locate the code that will allow me to get it working again. I did have to hack several files to get pcmcia running and have given the information to the kernel maintainers. But if someone knows what changes between Suse 2.6.4-54 and the 2.6.7-rc2 for input were, would you let me know so that I may get the touchpad up. Clark