Create kmod for Fedora/RPM based systems (especially immutable systems like Silverblue/Kinoite)

[sihawken]

I have been attempting to use this dkms repository as a base to build an akmod rpm package, so that fedora based systems, including immutable (silverblue/kinoite) can use this kernel module.

Unfortunately, immutable Fedora (Silverblue/Kinoite) is not compatible with dkms. Only akmods are supported.

I gave it my best attempt here https://github.com/sihawken/i915-sriov-kmod/, it seems to work and load (more details in the README.md). However, when I run dmesg | grep i915, I get the dreaded: i915: unknown parameter 'max_vfs' ignored message.

I have a copr repository here if you want to try it out on your own system
Fedora repository: https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/sihawken/akmods/

Immutable Fedora: rpm-ostree install akmod-i915-sriov
Fedora: dnf install akmod-i915-sriov

Perhaps I am missing something obvious here. I would really appreciate it if someone who has more experience with kernel modules would take a look.

Here is an example of another dkms package that can be build as an akmod with the two .spec files:
https://github.com/KyleGospo/openrgb-dkms/tree/main

Thanks

[sihawken]

I managed to install the akmod on Fedora Workstation 38, with a depmod -a and dracut --force.

It seems that I manage to solve my own problem, but it would be great to have this be officially supported by this repo.

[masiv1001]

I managed to install the akmod on Fedora Workstation 38, with a depmod -a and dracut --force.

It seems that I manage to solve my own problem, but it would be great to have this be officially supported by this repo.

How did you manage to install it? I'm trying to install it on Fedora 38 too.

[sihawken]

@masiv1001 The instructions can be found here: https://github.com/sihawken/i915-sriov-kmod/

[ghost]

@masiv1001 The instructions can be found here: https://github.com/sihawken/i915-sriov-kmod/

I did install from the instructions, did not give any error, how can i see if it works? Can i create VA-API video acceleration in VM now?

[masiv1001]

I did install from the instructions, did not give any error, how can i see if it works? Can i create VA-API video acceleration in VM now?

@EverlastingOS You can test is by watching the output of the following commands (creating 2 test virtual devices):

sudo su
echo 2 > /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/sriov_numvfs

It should not output anything, then run:

lspci | grep VGA

If everything goes well, it should list three devices, 00:02.0 and it's respective sub-devices 2.1 and 2.3.
Beware VM usage requires extra steps, some users could get it working but I couldn't get it working with a windows guest, for further reading go onto some of the other issues like #101, #81 or #8 or go to vGPU (SR-IOV) with Intel 12th Gen iGPU, where I learned some of the things necessary to get it up somewhat working.

@masiv1001 The instructions can be found here: https://github.com/sihawken/i915-sriov-kmod/

I've since successfully installed it but it stopped working ever since I updated the kernel on fedora 39 (now running 6.5)

[ghost]

I did install from the instructions, did not give any error, how can i see if it works? Can i create VA-API video acceleration in VM now?

@EverlastingOS You can test is by watching the output of the following commands (creating 2 test virtual devices):

sudo su
echo 2 > /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/sriov_numvfs

It should not output anything, then run:

lspci | grep VGA

If everything goes well, it should list three devices, 00:02.0 and it's respective sub-devices 2.1 and 2.3. Beware VM usage requires extra steps, some users could get it working but I couldn't get it working with a windows guest, for further reading go onto some of the other issues like #101, #81 or #8 or go to vGPU (SR-IOV) with Intel 12th Gen iGPU, where I learned some of the things necessary to get it up somewhat working.

@masiv1001 The instructions can be found here: https://github.com/sihawken/i915-sriov-kmod/

I've since successfully installed it but it stopped working ever since I updated the kernel on fedora 39 (now running 6.5)

hey, thanks for reply, yes im running fedora 39 also, and my laptop do freeze when typing " sudo su
echo 2 > /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/sriov_numvfs"

[masiv1001]

@EverlastingOS I could not get it working on the new fedora release so I don't know if it is possible at all. Your pc freezing might indicate it didn't work, still, do your own research on the topic, you might find something I did not, good luck!

[resiliencer]

I was unable to compile the dkms i915 module in Alpine Linux, so I did that in Arch Linux and then I took successfully compiled kernel and attached it to my Alpine linux (to do this, just create a separate item in the grub menu and copy the desired folder from /lib/ modules). So I am currently running Alpine with Arch kernel with dkms and i915 mod lol) Works fine.

[bolzerrr]

I did compile it for alpine with following steps:

I had to update minor version in https://github.com/strongtz/i915-sriov-dkms/blob/master/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/uc/abi/guc_version_abi.h and remove a compile flag ( -DCONFIG_DRM_I915_PXP) in https://github.com/strongtz/i915-sriov-dkms/blob/master/Makefile

make -C /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/build M=$(pwd) modules -j4
mv i915.ko i915_sriov.ko
cp i915_sriov.ko /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/extra/
depmod -a
echo "blacklist i915" | tee /etc/modprobe.d/i915-blacklist.conf
echo "i915_sriov" |  tee -a /etc/modules
 vi /etc/default/grub ## i915.enable_guc=3 
update-grub