The bootloader will load the kernel. This could be GRUB or BCD for windows
Initrd - meant initial ram disk. Initramfs - initial ram file system.
It has most drivers built as modules, so you dont waste all the ram building drivers in the kernel.
It is big 50MB and contains all drivers.
initrd - is compressed image. Zstandard compressed data/ ASCII cpio archive
initramfs - uncompressed for older pcs.
It is called initrd in many places although it is a initramfs, particularly in boot loaders, as for them it is just a BLOB. The difference is made by the OS when it boots.
dmesg
systemd-analyze
systemd-analyze plot > plot.svg
/var/log/rc.log --- /etc/rc.conf - log=yes
Startup finished in 2.840s (kernel) + 11.378s (userspace) = 14.218s graphical.target reached after 11.364s in userspace
Userspace will be since systemd (init) starts to load services.
sudo systemctl disable/enable/start/stop NAME_OF_SERVICE
journalctl --disk-usage
journalctl --vacuum-size=50M
journalctl --verify (verify integrity)
/etc/systemd/journald.conf
SystemMaxUse=50M
Drivers
To use hw (video card, usb device etc) we need 1 or 2 parts depending on the hardware.
1. a device driver that provices software APIs to the kernel to interact with the hardawre and is os kernel specifici - windows/linux, or even different kernel versions, when some major APIs change.
1. a device driver that provices software APIs to the kernel to interact with the hardawre and is os kernel specifici - windows/linux, or even different kernel versions, when some major APIs change.
Drivers can be built into the kernel or dynamic loaded. Most are dynamic for the flexibility.
Then there are in tree and out of tree drivers.
If the driver is open source it gets included into the kernel tree and gets re-compiled with every kernel version. If its not open source and its proprietary code, then you have to compile it with every new kernel you install.
Then there are in tree and out of tree drivers.
If the driver is open source it gets included into the kernel tree and gets re-compiled with every kernel version. If its not open source and its proprietary code, then you have to compile it with every new kernel you install.
Drivers depend on kernel APIs - so if the driver is added to the kernel-tree, when a developer changes the APIs they also update the drivers.
If some older drivers depen on interfaces or APIs that get dropped out the kernel, then they will stop working, and you need to buy new hardware.
Kernel developers work for free and the hardware manufacturers only support old hardware for a few years until they release new hw. None of them will be willing to update the software of old hw.
To some extent this also happens with Windows, as some older hw might only have drivers up to a specific windows kernel versions, lets say only up to windows xp.
But if the driver is proprietary and out the tree, then it will stop working with new kernels - unless someone updates the code, which rerelly happens - so you need to buy new hardware if you want to use the new kernels.
If some older drivers depen on interfaces or APIs that get dropped out the kernel, then they will stop working, and you need to buy new hardware.
Kernel developers work for free and the hardware manufacturers only support old hardware for a few years until they release new hw. None of them will be willing to update the software of old hw.
To some extent this also happens with Windows, as some older hw might only have drivers up to a specific windows kernel versions, lets say only up to windows xp.
But if the driver is proprietary and out the tree, then it will stop working with new kernels - unless someone updates the code, which rerelly happens - so you need to buy new hardware if you want to use the new kernels.
DKMS - Dynamic Kernel Module Support - need to run as root, will automate the rebuild process of external driver modules with every kernel update.
You need to install it and configure it. --- sudo install dkms
Kernel driver is the one that is bound to the hw.
Kernel modules are different drivers that can be used, if different functionality is required. NVIDIA might provide multiple drivers for different hw accelerated stuff, directx etc.
Kernel modules are different drivers that can be used, if different functionality is required. NVIDIA might provide multiple drivers for different hw accelerated stuff, directx etc.
Modules = driver /usr/lib/modules/6.1.0-15-amd64/
lsmod
modprobe
insmod
rmmod
sudo modinfo --- module params ex usbcore --- old scheme, new scheme - read first 8bytes or 64bytes to know the speed
Proprietary out-of the tree drivers - Video drivers:
xserver-xorg-video-intel
xf86-video-intel
xf86-video-amdgpu
nvidia nvidia-utils
sudo apt install xserver-xorg-video-intell
This package provides the driver for the Intel i8xx and i9xx family of chipsets, including i810, i815, i830, i845, i855, i865, i915, i945 and i965 series chips.
2. a firmware - is a piece of code uploaded to the hw chip
In windows the driver includes both of them.
In linux it depends on the open-source license. So in most cases there is a open-source driver included in the kernel -tree and then you might need to get a firmware from the manufacturer.
Most of the time there is a package that it includes it, if not in the main dristo then in a separate repository like nonfree
In windows the driver includes both of them.
In linux it depends on the open-source license. So in most cases there is a open-source driver included in the kernel -tree and then you might need to get a firmware from the manufacturer.
Most of the time there is a package that it includes it, if not in the main dristo then in a separate repository like nonfree
Some hw some the firmware written into the chip's memory, and you can make a firmware upgrade, or some hardware use dynamic firmware that is loaded at boot time into the hardware, for ex wifi cards from intel load the firmware dynamic. to install it you use the package iwlwifi - intel wifi lan driver. Even though its called driver it actually contains a firmware
/usr/lib/firmware
The firmware is loaded by udev and sent to the driver - that is a kernel module.
Most of the time kernel modules are drivers. But they can provide other functionality as well, usb stack, network stacks etc.
Most of the time kernel modules are drivers. But they can provide other functionality as well, usb stack, network stacks etc.
udev - device manager
DBUS - inter process comunication protocal
***** udevadm monitor
udev rules (1) /lib/udev --- (2) /etc/udev --- /usr/lib/firmware
For ttyUSB0 --- sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER
Edit apt sources and add contrib non-free
apt search firmwaresome example of packages with firmware:
linux-firmware
firmware-linux-free
firmware-linux-nonfree
linux-firmware-nonfree
firmware-iwlwifi
Add driver at debian install time:
Search here:
https://www.debian.org/distrib/packages#search_contents
Search here:
https://www.debian.org/distrib/packages#search_contents
Put contents in /dev/sdc1/drivers and mount to /lib/firmware
/lib/firmware/iwlwifi-3945-2.ucode
mkdir /lib/firmware
mount /dev/sdc1/drivers /lib/firmware
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/Firmware
Build kernel
============
sudo apt install gcc flex bison libncurses-dev libssl-dev
make xconfig
make menuconfig
/usr/src/linux/.config
make localyesconfig --- local loaded modules --- built-in kernel
make localmodconfig --- local loaded modules --- built as modules
make allnoconfig --- minimum kernel :)
+ [sata + ata + scsi] (ahci - lspci -k) si fs(ext4)
time make -j4 // j3 =j4
make modules
sudo make modules_install --- /usr/lib/modules/xx.xx.xx/
sudo make install --- /boot/
How to recompile the kernel to stop using an initrd - for much faster boot
sudo apt install dpkg-dev
echo "deb-src https://pkgmaster.devuan.org/merged stable main non-free-firmware" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list
*copy first line and add in front deb-src
sudo apt update
apt source linux
cd linux-6.12.73 --- whatever version it will be current when you do it
*copy first line and add in front deb-src
sudo apt update
apt source linux
cd linux-6.12.73 --- whatever version it will be current when you do it
cp /boot/config-$(uname -r) .config --- we copy current config
OPTIONALtar -cf custom_kernel.tar linux-6.12.73/.tar -C /root
Boot an arch linux live image on a fast pc.
pacman -Sy base-devel bc kmod cpio libelf pahole openssl
tar -xf custom_kernelmount -o remount,size=12G /run/archiso/cowspace
If you get errors you might need
make clean --- deletes all compiled files, you start over from 0
make oldconfig ---- addes changes to .config
make menuconfig
make -j$(nrpoc) or make -j16
Build kernel
============
sudo apt install gcc flex bison libncurses-dev libssl-dev
make xconfig
make menuconfig
/usr/src/linux/.config
make localyesconfig --- local loaded modules --- built-in kernel
make localmodconfig --- local loaded modules --- built as modules
make allnoconfig --- minimum kernel :)
+ [sata + ata + scsi] (ahci - lspci -k) si fs(ext4)
time make -j4 // j3 =j4
make modules
sudo make modules_install --- /usr/lib/modules/xx.xx.xx/
sudo make install --- /boot/
https://www.kernel.org/ download kernel
You can make it in ramdisk - and copy final back to hdd for further changes.
make mrproper- The make mrproper command cleans up any leftover files from previous kernel builds in your source directory. It also wipes out any . config files in your source directory. If you want to do a new clean build.Boot a Linux MX image to detect all drivers.
ADD all drivers loaded either built into kernel or as modules.
ADD all drivers loaded either built into kernel or as modules.
lsmod > /tmp/mylsmod
make LSMOD=/tmp/mylsmod localmodconfig
Press / and search for ex USB_SERIAL_CONSOLE for usb to serial driver - and it shows the path where to find it.
TO disable initrd, disable:
General Setup -> at the bottom - initrd imitramfs support
Need to have added as drivers in kernel ext4 and sata/ahci or nvme drivers
General Setup -> at the bottom - initrd imitramfs support
Need to have added as drivers in kernel ext4 and sata/ahci or nvme drivers
For iwlwifi driver to work when built as driver into the kernel you need to set:
CONFIG_FW_LOADER_USER_HELPER_FALLBACK=y
Linux Kernel Configuration
CONFIG_FW_LOADER_USER_HELPER_FALLBACK=y
Linux Kernel Configuration
└─> Device Drivers
└─> Generic Driver Options
└─> Firmware loader
└─> Force the firmware sysfs fallback mechanism when possible
No rule to make target 'debian/certs/debian-uefi-certs.pem' scripts/config --disable SYSTEM_TRUSTED_KEYS scripts/config --disable SYSTEM_REVOCATION_KEYS
Hardware info
lspci -k
sudo dmesg | grep driver --- to view version
journalctl
sudo dmidecode --mb info
sudo dmidecode -t 16 (max) / 17 (modules) - ram
lm-sensors --- temps/fan/voltages --- sensors
lsusb
lsblk
lshw
uname
lscpu --- cat /proc/cpuinfo
uname -a --- cat /proc/version --- linux distro version
cat /etc/os-release --- distro - debian 11 bullseye
Check OpenCL drivers
You can run clinfo (sudo apt install clinfo ) and if it says 0 devices
sudo apt install intel-opencl-icd
