configure failures with 4-Character site name

[Ken McVay]

After posting a message about configure's failure to update my 
kernel after using option #10 to add "oneb", I received some insteresting
mail, which suggested that the problem was a bug in Xenix (I run 386 GT
version) that wouldn't process a 4-character site name. To my regret,
in trying to solve the problem (being a rookie didn't help) I managed
to lose the boot drive, and the credit has to remain anon...

But I did test the notion, and found it was correct. If I changed my sitename
to "onebb" and went through configure, it exited, compiled, and smiled. 

Amazing.

Now, my bbs source tells me that I >MUST< educate this kernel of mine,
or my akcs system simply won't work properly, and neither will smail.

Is there another way to fix this, or am I going to have to change my
site name? I've been told I can compile a new kernel - can someone
tell me what's required (before I manage to zap my system again :-))