[yocto] Selecting different kernel inside an image recipe

[Klaus Knopper]

Hello list,

I'm trying to build variantions/brands of an image that only differ in
kernel configuration and kernel modules included, but everything else stays
the same, for the exact same board, as in the main image.

Setting PREFERRED_PROVIDER_virtual/kernel = "different_kernel"
right inside in the new image recipe does not have any effect, as that
variable seems to be evaluated exclusively in the local.conf machine
file, which is read by all recipes.

I'm confident that it is somehow possible in yocto to create an
additional image recipe that only differs in kernel, but I'm missing the
HOWTO for this seemingly trivial task. :-(

Any hints/links?

With kind regards
-Klaus