If you're on a Debian system, make -f debian/rules binary creates the
watchdog package. It's even easier if you use debmake, just call build.
(Note that the Debian files are not distributed with the original source
anymore. You have to get the Debian .diff.gz file, too.)

If you use redhat, you can use the .spec file to generate a package. But as
with Debian you have to get the .spec file from the RedHat sources. Copy
watchdog.spec to /usr/src/redhat/SPECS, copy the .tar.gz archive to
/usr/src/redhat/SOURCES, cd /usr/src/redhat/SPECS, rpm -ba watchdog.spec.
(Note that the watchdog.spec file not distributed with the original source
either.)

If your Linux distribution does not include watchdog feel free to ask the
distributor to add it. Since watchdog is GPLed there should not be a
problem.

Okay, if you want to install it manually:

$ autoreconf -i (if you're building from CVS)
$ ./configure
$ make
$ su
# make install

There are several options available which can be listed by running

$ ./configure --help

We only list some options here which are generally useful.

Symbols: 

    *cl - can be overridden in the command line
    *cf - can be overridden in the config file

  --with-sleep-interval=sec         (default 10)       *cl *cf

    This allows you to set the default number of seconds which watchdog
	will sleep before acting again. 
  
  --with-sysadmin=email             (default root)     *cf
    
    If watchdog attempts to reboot a machine, it will try to send an email out
	before that. You can set the email address of the recipient with this
    option.
  
  --with-maxload=int                (default 12)       *cf

    If the load average reaches this point, the machine will reboot.

  --with-watchdog=path              (default /dev/watchdog) *cf
  --with-temperature=path           (default /dev/temperature) *cf

    Sets the path for the respective device. 
    
Enjoy
Michael