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Reformat "Compiling the Linux Mainline Kernel"
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lafrenierejm committed May 26, 2024
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Expand Up @@ -6,256 +6,143 @@ Maintained by @morrownr

2023-02-20

Prerequisites:
### Prerequisites

A system running Linux (only Ubuntu is tested).
1. A system running Linux (only Ubuntu is tested).
1. Access to the terminal/command line.
1. A user account with sudo/root privileges.
1. 12GB of available space on the hard drive.

Access to the terminal/command line.
> [!NOTE]
> This checklist has only been tested on Ubuntu 22.10 but will likely work, possibly with minor modifications, on numerous distros.
> However you should check with your distro documentation or user support forums to confirm.
A user account with sudo/root privileges.
### Step 1: Download Source Code

12GB of available space on the hard drive.
1. Download the Source Code tarball from <https://www.kernel.org/>.
For example, when downloading version 6.2 of the kernel one would download `linux-6.2.tar.xz`.
1. `cd` into the directory where the source code was downloaded.
For example, if downloaded into `~/Downloads` then run `cd ~/Downloads`.
1. Extract the Source Code:

-----

Note: This checklist has only been tested on Ubuntu 22.10 but will likely work,
possibly with minor modifications, on numerous distros, however you should
check with your distro documentation or user support forums to confirm.

-----

Download the Source Code tarball from:

https://www.kernel.org/

linux-6.2.tar.xz

Note: The above name will change depending on the version of the kernel you
decide to compile. Adjust accordingly.

Note: I make a directory called `src` in my home directory and that is what I
download the file to. Anywhere in your home directory should work.

```
mkdir ~/src
```
``` shell
tar xvf linux-6.2.tar.xz
```

Download the Source Code tarball to `~/src` and move to the `~/src` directory:

```
cd ~/src
```

-----

Extract the Source Code:

```
tar xvf linux-6.2.tar.xz
```

-----
### Step 2: Install Dependencies

Install Required Packages:
Install build dependencies.
For Debian-based distros such as Ubuntu, this can be done by running:

```
``` shell
sudo apt install git fakeroot build-essential ncurses-dev xz-utils libssl-dev bc flex libelf-dev bison
```

Note: The above line is specific to Debian based distros such
as Ubuntu.

-----

Configure Kernel:

Note: You may want to research this issue so as to have a better understanding
of what this short guide provides.

Navigate to the `linux-6.2` directory using the cd command:

```
cd linux-6.2
```

Copy the existing configuration file using the cp command:

```
cp -v /boot/config-$(uname -r) .config
```

To make changes to the configuration file:

Run make:

```
make menuconfig
```

The command launches several scripts that open the configuration menu.

The configuration menu includes options such as firmware, file system, network,
and memory settings. Use the arrows to make a selection or choose Help to learn
more about the options. When you finish making the changes, select Save, and
then exit the menu.

-----

Example: To turn on support for the rtl8822bu, rtl8812bu, rtl8821cu and
rtl8811cu chipsets, select 8822BU and 8821CU per the example below:

```
Device Drivers --->
-*- Network device support --->
### Step 3: Configure the Kernel

[*] Wireless LAN --->
> [!NOTE]
> You may want to research this topic so as to have a better understanding of what this short guide provides.

<M> Realtek 802.11ac wireless chips support --->
1. Navigate to directory where the source code was extracted, e.g. `cd linux-6.2`.
1. Copy the existing configuration file:

--- Realtek 802.11ac wireless chips support
<M> Realtek 8822BE PCI wireless network adapter
< > Realtek 8822BU USB wireless network adapter (NEW)
<M> Realtek 8822CE PCI wireless network adapter
< > Realtek 8822CU USB wireless network adapter (NEW)
<M> Realtek 8723DE PCI wireless network adapter
< > Realtek 8723DU USB wireless network adapter (NEW)
<M> Realtek 8821CE PCI wireless network adapter
< > Realtek 8821CU USB wireless network adapter (NEW)
```
``` shell
cp -v /boot/config-$(uname -r) .config
```

In the section above, there are 4 new drivers that will not compile unless you
select them. Once finished, select Save, and then exit the menu.
1. Make changes to the configuration file.

-----
1. Run make:

Example: To turn on support for the mt7921au chipset, select MT7921U in the
example below:
``` shell
make menuconfig
```

```
Device Drivers --->
-*- Network device support --->
[*] Wireless LAN --->
[*] MediaTek devices
<M> MediaTek MT7601U (USB) support
<M> MediaTek MT76x0U (USB) support
<M> MediaTek MT76x0E (PCIe) support
<M> MediaTek MT76x2E (PCIe) support
<M> MediaTek MT76x2U (USB) support
<M> MediaTek MT7603E (PCIe) and MT76x8 WLAN support
<M> MediaTek MT7615E and MT7663E (PCIe) support
<M> MediaTek MT7663U (USB) support
<M> MediaTek MT7663S (SDIO) support
<M> MediaTek MT7915E (PCIe) support
<M> MediaTek MT7921E (PCIe) support
<M> MediaTek MT7921S (SDIO) support
<M> MediaTek MT7921U (USB) support
```
The command launches several scripts that open the configuration menu.

In the section above, the MT7921U driver is already selected. Once finished,
select Save, and then exit the menu.
The configuration menu includes options such as firmware, file system, network, and memory settings.
Use the arrows to make a selection or choose Help to learn more about the options.
When you finish making the changes, select Save, and then exit the menu.

-----
1. For example:
To turn on support for the rtl8822bu, rtl8812bu, rtl8821cu and rtl8811cu chipsets, select 8822BU and 8821CU per the example below:

Prevent errors related to certs:
``` text
Device Drivers --->
If you are compiling the kernel on Ubuntu or on any distros based on Ubuntu,
you may receive the following error that interrupts the building process:
-*- Network device support --->
`No rule to make target debian/canonical-certs.pem`
[*] Wireless LAN --->
To prevent the above problem, disable the conflicting security certificates
by executing the two commands below:
<M> Realtek 802.11ac wireless chips support --->
```
scripts/config --disable SYSTEM_TRUSTED_KEYS
```
--- Realtek 802.11ac wireless chips support
<M> Realtek 8822BE PCI wireless network adapter
< > Realtek 8822BU USB wireless network adapter (NEW)
<M> Realtek 8822CE PCI wireless network adapter
< > Realtek 8822CU USB wireless network adapter (NEW)
<M> Realtek 8723DE PCI wireless network adapter
< > Realtek 8723DU USB wireless network adapter (NEW)
<M> Realtek 8821CE PCI wireless network adapter
< > Realtek 8821CU USB wireless network adapter (NEW)
```

```
scripts/config --disable SYSTEM_REVOCATION_KEYS
```
In the section above, there are 4 new drivers that will not compile unless you select them.
Once finished, select Save, and then exit the menu.

-----
1. Prevent errors related to certs.

Now is the time to patch any files if you are going to test.
If you are compiling the kernel on Ubuntu or on any distros based on Ubuntu, you may receive the following error that interrupts the building process:

-----
> No rule to make target debian/canonical-certs.pem

Compile the kernel:
To prevent the above problem, disable the conflicting security certificates by executing the two commands below:

1. `scripts/config --disable SYSTEM_TRUSTED_KEYS`
1. `scripts/config --disable SYSTEM_REVOCATION_KEYS`

```
make -j$(nproc)
```
1. Now is the time to patch any files if you are going to test.

The process of compiling the Linux kernel takes some time to complete.
1. Compile the kernel:

Note: If the compile stops, make selections or take the default and
hit Enter until compiling starts again (this is related new stuff and
the cert stuff above).
``` shell
make -j$(nproc)
```

---
The process of compiling the Linux kernel takes some time to complete.

Install the required modules:
> [!TIP]
> If the compile stops, make selections or take the default and hit Enter until compiling starts again (this is related new stuff and the cert stuff above).

```
sudo make modules_install
```
1. Install the required modules:

---
``` shell
sudo make modules_install
```

Install the kernel:
1. Install the kernel:

```
sudo make install
```
``` shell
sudo make install
```

---
1. Reboot and check kernel:

Reboot and check kernel:
``` shell
uname -r
```

### Step 4 (Optional): Uninstalling a Kernel Installed from Source

```
uname -r
```

-----

For uninstalling the kernel installed from source, run:

```
sudo rm -rf /lib/modules/kernel_version
```
Example: $ sudo rm -rf /lib/modules/6.2

```
sudo rm -f /boot/vmlinuz-kernel_version*
```
Example: $ sudo rm -f /boot/vmlinuz-6.2*

```
sudo rm -f /boot/initrd.img-kernel_version*
```
Example: $ sudo rm -f /boot/initrd.img-6.2*

```
sudo rm -f /boot/config-kernel_version*
```
Example: $ sudo rm -f /boot/config-6.2*

```
sudo rm -f /boot/System.map-kernel_version*
```
Example: $ sudo rm -f /boot/System.map-6.2*

Finally, after uninstalling the kernel, run:

```
sudo update-grub
```
To uninstall a kernel that had been installed from source, run the following commands.
In each command, replace `${kernel_version}` with the version you want to remove, e.g. `6.2`.

to update the grub menu.
1. `sudo rm -rf /lib/modules/${kernel_version}`
1. `sudo rm -f /boot/vmlinuz-${kernel_version}*`
1. `sudo rm -f /boot/initrd.img-${kernel_version}*`
1. `sudo rm -f /boot/config-${kernel_version}*`
1. `sudo rm -f /boot/System.map-${kernel_version}*`
1. Update the GRUB menu to remove the outdated entry: `sudo update-grub`

-----

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