[SLUG] kernel headers..

[Campbell McLeay <campbellm@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

I was wondering whether it is necessary to download kernel headers 
for the kernel you are compiling. I have rarely bothered with this and
things have seemed to work (maybe by sheer luck than anything!). 
Come to that - what are they actually used for? I thought I read
that they are used for compiling applications 'against'. Do they
have to be in any particular place (e.g., if you were compiling
a kernel in /usr/home/cm/linux-2.4.19 should you stick them in 
/usr/home/cm? 

Cheers for any help,

Campbell