make menuconfig Aborts with an Error

Support knowledgebase (menuconfig24_71)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: Versions since 7.1

Symptom

You want to make a new kernel in the directory /usr/src/linux with the command make menuconfig. The process aborts with the following error message:
rm -f include/asm
( cd include ; ln -sf asm-i386 asm)
make -C scripts/lxdialog all
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-2.4.0.SuSE/scripts/lxdialog'
/usr/i486-suse-linux/bin/ld: cannot find -lncurses
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status

>> Unable to find the Ncurses libraries.
>>
>> You must have Ncurses installed in order
>> to use 'make menuconfig'

make[1]: *** [ncurses] Error 1
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-2.4.0.SuSE/scripts/lxdialog'
make: *** [menuconfig] Error 2
However, the package ncurses is installed.

Cause

The include files for ncurses are located in the package "ncurses-devel". The kernel requires specifically /usr/include/ncurses.h.

Solution

Install the package "ncurses-devel", series "d", by means of YaST2 or YaST1.
Keywords: MAKE, MENUCONFIG, KERNEL, 2.4, NCURSES, ERROR, LXDIALOG

SDB-menuconfig24_71, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 03. Sep 2002
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 03. Sep 2002 by ip (sdb_gen 1.40.0)