diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/README b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/README
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..33f48e58386
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/README
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+*** Updating the kernel configs ***
+
+- Copy the old Nix expression (e.g. linux-2.6.21.nix) to the new one
+  (e.g. linux-2.6.22.nix) and update it.
+- Add an new attribute to all-packages.nix.
+
+For each platform (i686, x86-64, uml):
+
+- Make an svn copy from the old config (e.g. config-2.6.21-i686-smp)
+  to the new one (e.g. (e.g. config-2.6.22-i686-smp).
+- Unpack the new kernel.
+- Copy the config file for this platform
+  (e.g. config-2.6.22-i686-smp) to .config.
+- Run `make oldconfig', answer all questions.  (For the uml
+  configuration, add "ARCH=um SHELL=bash".)
+- Make sure that CONFIG_FB_TILEBLITTING is NOT SET (otherwise fbsplash
+  won't work).  If it is, investigate why (there's probably another
+  option that forces it to be on) and fix it.
+- Copy .config to the new config file (e.g. config-2.6.21-i686-smp).