< Kernel

Kernel/Upgrade


This article describes the steps to upgrade to a newer version of the Linux kernel.

Making a new kernel from the new sources is basically the same process as making a kernel when installing the system. The only difference is that one can save time by adjusting the old kernel configuration for the changes made in the new kernel instead of going through all the kernel options (like make menuconfig) again.

A new kernel may have had options or features added or removed since the old kernel. Hence the configuration file of the new kernel may have new entries the configuration file of the old kernel doesn't have, and it might not have entries which are present in the configuration file of the old kernel anymore.

This article is a guide on how to deal with such changes of the configuration file by converting the old configuration to a configuration that can be used with the new kernel.

Kernel upgrade in Gentoo involves these steps:

  • Step 1: Emerging the new kernel sources.
  • Step 2: Setting the right symlink to the new kernel.
  • Step 3: Moving to the new kernel's folder.
  • Step 4: Adjusting the .config file for the options introduced to, or removed from the new kernel's configuration.
  • Step 5: Building the kernel and the initramfs.
  • Step 6: Updating the bootloader.
  • Step 7: Removing or keeping the old kernel.


Important
It is wise to make a backup of the kernel configuration so that the previous configurations are not lost. Many users devote considerable time to figure out the best configuration for the system, and losing that information is definitely not wanted. One of the ways introduced in Copy the previous kernel configuration of this article can be used for making a backup of the configuration file.

Emerging the new kernel sources[edit | edit source]

A kernel upgrade may be a good idea when new kernel sources are installed. New kernel sources are sometimes installed while updating the system by running the following command:

root #emerge --ask --update --deep --with-bdeps=y --newuse @world

Of course, they can be installed directly using the next command (replace gentoo-sources with whatever version of the kernel that is in-use):

root #emerge --ask --update --deep --with-bdeps=y --newuse sys-kernel/gentoo-sources

Installing new kernel sources doesn't provide the user with a new kernel. It is necessary to build and install a new kernel from the new sources and then reboot the system to actually run the new kernel.

The kernel configuration is saved in a file named .config in the directory that holds the kernel sources, a symlink is used to point to that directory.

The symlink /usr/src/linux should always point to the directory that holds the sources of the kernel which currently runs. This can be done in one of three ways:

  1. Default: Setting the link with eselect
  2. Alternative 1: Manually updating the symbolic link
  3. Alternative 2: Installing the kernel sources with USE="symlink"

To set the symlink with eselect:

user $eselect kernel list
Available kernel symlink targets:
 [1] linux-3.14.14-gentoo *
 [2] linux-3.16.3-gentoo

This outputs the available kernel sources. The asterisk indicates the chosen sources.

To change the kernel sources, e.g. to the second entry, do:

root #eselect kernel set 2

Alternative 1: Manually updating the symbolic link[edit | edit source]

To set the symbolic link manually:

root #ln -sf /usr/src/linux-3.16.3-gentoo /usr/src/linux
user $ls -l /usr/src/linux
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 19 Oct  4 10:21 /usr/src/linux -> linux-3.16.3-gentoo

This will make the /usr/src/linux point to the newly installed kernel sources.

If necessary, it can still be modified later with one of the other two methods.

Moving to the new kernel folder[edit | edit source]

Now that the symbolic link has been modified, change the working directory to the new kernel folder.

user $cd /usr/src/linux
Note
This command is still necessary even if the working directory was already /usr/src/linux when the symlink was modified. Until the new symlink is actually followed, the console will still be in the old kernel's directory.

Adjusting the .config file for the new kernel[edit | edit source]

Copy the previous kernel configuration[edit | edit source]

The configuration of the old kernel needs to be copied to the new one. The old configuration can be found in several places:

  • In the procfs filesystem, if the kernel option Enable access to .config through /proc/config.gz (CONFIG_IKCONFIG_PROC) was activated in the present kernel:
root #zcat /proc/config.gz > /usr/src/linux/.config
  • From the old kernel. This will only work when the old kernel was compiled with CONFIG_IKCONFIG:
root #/usr/src/linux/scripts/extract-ikconfig /path/to/old/kernel >/usr/src/linux/.config
  • In the /boot directory, if the configuration was installed there:
root #cp /boot/config-3.14.14-gentoo /usr/src/linux/.config
  • In the kernel directory of the currently-running kernel:
root #cp /usr/src/linux-3.14.14-gentoo/.config /usr/src/linux/
  • In the /etc/kernels/ directory, if SAVE_CONFIG="yes" is set in /etc/genkernel.conf and genkernel was previously used:
root #cp /etc/kernels/kernel-config-x86_64-3.14.14-gentoo /usr/src/linux/.config

Update the .config file[edit | edit source]

Note
Invoking make oldconfig and make menuconfig can be done automatically via genkernel in the build process by enabling the OLDCONFIG and MENUCONFIG parameters in /etc/genkernel.conf. If OLDCONFIG is enabled in genkernel's configuration or if it's going to be enabled by passing --oldconfig option to genkernel command, jump to the build section in this article.

A new kernel usually requires a new .config file to support new kernel features. The .config from the old kernel can be converted to be used with the new kernel. The conversion can be done several ways including running either make oldconfig or make olddefconfig.

make oldconfig[edit | edit source]

Important
make syncconfig has become an internal implementation detail and make oldconfig should be used. make silentoldconfig has been removed as of linux version 4.19.

The following configuration is like the text based configuration with make config. For new configuration options, the user is asked for a decision. For example:

user $cd /usr/src/linux
root #make oldconfig
Anticipatory I/O scheduler (IOSCHED_AS) [Y/n/m/?] (NEW)

The string (NEW) at the end of the line marks this option as new. Left to the string in square brackets are the possible answers: Yes, no, module or ? to show the help. The recommend (i.e. default) answer is capitalized (here Y). The help explains the option or driver.

Unfortunately make oldconfig doesn't show a lot more information for each option, such as the context, so it is sometimes difficult to give the right answer. In this case the best way to go is to remember the option name and revise it afterwards through one of the graphical kernel configuration tools. For listing new options and doing research about them, make listnewconfig can be used before running make oldconfig.

make olddefconfig[edit | edit source]

Running make olddefconfig will keep all of the options from the old .config and set the new options to their recommended (i.e. default) values:

user $cd /usr/src/linux
root #make olddefconfig

make help[edit | edit source]

Use make help to see other conversion methods available:

user $make help

Observing the difference[edit | edit source]

A diff tool can be used to compare the old and new .configs to see what options have been added.

user $diff <(cat .config | sort) <(cat .config.old | sort) | awk '/^<.*(=|Linux)/ { $1=""; print }' 
CONFIG_64BIT_TIME=y
CONFIG_AMD_NB=y
CONFIG_ARCH_CLOCKSOURCE_INIT=y
CONFIG_ARCH_HAS_GIGANTIC_PAGE=y
CONFIG_ARCH_HAS_PTE_DEVMAP=y
CONFIG_ARCH_HAS_SET_DIRECT_MAP=y
CONFIG_ARCH_STACKWALK=y
CONFIG_ARCH_USE_MEMREMAP_PROT=y
CONFIG_BLK_PM=y
CONFIG_CC_CAN_LINK=y
CONFIG_CC_DISABLE_WARN_MAYBE_UNINITIALIZED=y
CONFIG_CC_HAS_ASM_INLINE=y
CONFIG_CC_HAS_KASAN_GENERIC=y
CONFIG_CC_HAS_WARN_MAYBE_UNINITIALIZED=y
CONFIG_CPU_SUP_AMD=y
CONFIG_CPU_SUP_HYGON=y
CONFIG_CPU_SUP_ZHAOXIN=y
CONFIG_CRYPTO_LIB_AES=y
CONFIG_CRYPTO_LIB_ARC4=y
CONFIG_CRYPTO_LIB_DES=y
CONFIG_CRYPTO_LIB_SHA256=y
CONFIG_DEBUG_MISC=y
CONFIG_DRM_I915_FORCE_PROBE=""
CONFIG_DRM_I915_SPIN_REQUEST=5
CONFIG_DRM_I915_USERFAULT_AUTOSUSPEND=250
CONFIG_DYNAMIC_EVENTS=y
CONFIG_EFI_EARLYCON=y
CONFIG_GCC_PLUGINS=y
CONFIG_GENERIC_GETTIMEOFDAY=y
CONFIG_HAVE_ARCH_JUMP_LABEL_RELATIVE=y
CONFIG_HAVE_ARCH_STACKLEAK=y
CONFIG_HAVE_ASM_MODVERSIONS=y
CONFIG_HAVE_EISA=y
CONFIG_HAVE_FAST_GUP=y
CONFIG_HAVE_FUNCTION_ARG_ACCESS_API=y
CONFIG_HAVE_GENERIC_VDSO=y
CONFIG_HAVE_MOVE_PMD=y
CONFIG_HAVE_PCI=y
CONFIG_INIT_STACK_NONE=y
CONFIG_IO_URING=y
CONFIG_KASAN_STACK=1
CONFIG_LEDS_TRIGGER_AUDIO=y
CONFIG_LSM="lockdown,yama,loadpin,safesetid,integrity"
CONFIG_MMC_SDHCI_IO_ACCESSORS=y
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_TARGET_MASQUERADE=m
CONFIG_NET_VENDOR_GOOGLE=y
CONFIG_NET_VENDOR_MICROCHIP=y
CONFIG_NET_VENDOR_PENSANDO=y
CONFIG_NET_VENDOR_XILINX=y
CONFIG_NF_NAT=m
CONFIG_NF_NAT_MASQUERADE=y
CONFIG_NVMEM_SYSFS=y
CONFIG_OPTIMIZE_INLINING=y
CONFIG_POWER_SUPPLY_HWMON=y
CONFIG_PROC_PID_ARCH_STATUS=y
CONFIG_SKB_EXTENSIONS=y
CONFIG_SND_INTEL_NHLT=y
CONFIG_UBSAN_ALIGNMENT=y
CONFIG_UNIX_SCM=y
CONFIG_USB_AUTOSUSPEND_DELAY=2
CONFIG_X86_ACPI_CPUFREQ_CPB=y
CONFIG_X86_MCE_AMD=y
# end of Gentoo Linux
# Linux/x86 5.4.0-gentoo Kernel Configuration

And which have been removed

user $diff <(cat .config | sort) <(cat .config.old | sort) | awk '/^>.*(=|Linux)/ { $1=""; print }' 
CONFIG_ANON_INODES=y
CONFIG_ARCH_DISCARD_MEMBLOCK=y
CONFIG_ARCH_HAS_SG_CHAIN=y
CONFIG_ARCH_HAS_ZONE_DEVICE=y
CONFIG_ARCH_SUPPORTS_OPTIMIZED_INLINING=y
CONFIG_ARM_GIC_MAX_NR=1
CONFIG_AUDIT_TREE=y
CONFIG_AUDIT_WATCH=y
CONFIG_BACKLIGHT_LCD_SUPPORT=y
CONFIG_CRYPTO_WORKQUEUE=y
CONFIG_DEFAULT_CFQ=y
CONFIG_DEFAULT_IO_DELAY_TYPE=0
CONFIG_DEFAULT_IOSCHED="cfq"
CONFIG_DEFAULT_SECURITY=""
CONFIG_DMA_DIRECT_OPS=y
CONFIG_FB_BACKLIGHT=y
CONFIG_GENERIC_HWEIGHT=y
CONFIG_HAVE_DEBUG_STACKOVERFLOW=y
CONFIG_HAVE_GENERIC_GUP=y
CONFIG_HAVE_MEMBLOCK=y
CONFIG_IA32_AOUT=y
CONFIG_INET6_XFRM_MODE_BEET=y
CONFIG_INET6_XFRM_MODE_TRANSPORT=y
CONFIG_INET6_XFRM_MODE_TUNNEL=y
CONFIG_INET_XFRM_MODE_TRANSPORT=y
CONFIG_INET_XFRM_MODE_TUNNEL=y
CONFIG_IO_DELAY_TYPE_0X80=0
CONFIG_IO_DELAY_TYPE_0XED=1
CONFIG_IO_DELAY_TYPE_NONE=3
CONFIG_IO_DELAY_TYPE_UDELAY=2
CONFIG_IOSCHED_CFQ=y
CONFIG_IOSCHED_NOOP=y
CONFIG_MAY_USE_DEVLINK=y
CONFIG_NO_BOOTMEM=y
CONFIG_RWSEM_XCHGADD_ALGORITHM=y
CONFIG_X86_DEV_DMA_OPS=y
# Linux/x86 4.19.86-gentoo Kernel Configuration

Alternatively, the kernel provides a script to cleanly compare 2 config files even if the options have moved in the file itself:

user $/usr/src/linux/scripts/diffconfig .config.old .config

make menuconfig[edit | edit source]

The options can then be researched and changed if necessary by running:

root #make menuconfig

Build[edit | edit source]

Important
When external kernel modules are installed (like nvidia or zfs), it may be necessary to run make modules_prepare as described below before building the kernel. Some modules cannot be installed or prepared before the kernel has been built.
Important
Do not forget to reconfigure the bootloader to account for the new kernel filenames, and rebuild the initramfs if one is used as well.

For this step, follow the steps in the manual configuration article.

Automated build and installation[edit | edit source]

It is possible to automatically build and install the newly emerged kernel using Portage hooks. While other approaches are also possible, the following is based on genkernel and gentoo-sources package. It requires the following prerequisites:

  1. genkernel all is able to build and install the kernel to which the /usr/src/linux symlink points into $BOOTDIR and the bootloader.
  2. The symlink use flag is set for the kernel ebuild.

If those are fulfilled, simply install a post_pkg_postinst Portage hook as shown below.

FILE /etc/portage/env/sys-kernel/gentoo-sourcesAutomated kernel build and installation portage hook
post_pkg_postinst() {
# BUG: reinstalls of a source will cause errors
	CURRENT_KV=$(uname -r)
	# Check to see if genkernel has been run previously for the running kernel and use that config
	if [[ -f "${EROOT}/etc/kernels/kernel-config-${CURRENT_KV}" ]] ; then
		genkernel --kernel-config="${EROOT}/etc/kernels/kernel-config-${CURRENT_KV}" all
	elif [[ -f "${EROOT}/usr/src/linux-${CURRENT_KV}/.config" ]] ; then # Use latest kernel config from current kernel
		genkernel --kernel-config="${EROOT}/usr/src/linux-${CURRENT_KV}/.config" all
	elif [[ -f /proc/config.gz ]] ; then # Use known running good kernel
		zcat /proc/config.gz >> "${EROOT}/tmp/genkernel.config"
		genkernel --kernel-config="${EROOT}/tmp/genkernel.config" all
		rm "${EROOT}/tmp/genkernel.config"
	else # No valid configs known
		genkernel all
	fi
}

Reinstalling external kernel modules[edit | edit source]

Note
The modules_prepare step is not required if building an entire kernel as this function is done as part of the standard process.

Any external kernel modules, such as binary kernel modules, need to be rebuilt for each new kernel. If the kernel has not been built yet, it has to first be prepared for the building of the external kernel modules:

root #make modules_prepare

Packages containing kernel modules can be rebuilt using the @module-rebuild set:

root #emerge --ask @module-rebuild

Solving build problems[edit | edit source]

When experiencing build problems while rebuilding the current kernel, it might help to sanitize the kernel sources. Make sure to backup the .config file first, as the operation will remove it. Make sure not to use a .bak or ~ suffix as backup as make distclean will clean those up as well.

root #cp .config /usr/src/kernel_config_bk
root #make distclean
root #mv /usr/src/kernel_config_bk .config

Update the bootloader[edit | edit source]

The upgraded and built kernel needs to be set up and eventually a bootloader or boot item updated, see Kernel/Configuration#Setup. Users of Grub can use the method below, users of other bootloaders must consult the handbook.

Using grub-mkconfig[edit | edit source]

After making sure /boot partition is mounted, the following command can be executed for updating grub:

root #grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Keeping or removing the old kernel[edit | edit source]

Keeping the old kernel sources[edit | edit source]

Kernel sources will eventually become unsupported. Some packages require the current sources to build. To protect the new sources from being removed by a depclean, it can be added to the world file (/var/lib/portage/world) by:

root #emerge --noreplace sys-kernel/gentoo-sources:newsource.version.here

Old sources that are no longer supported can be removed from the world file by:

root #emerge --deselect sys-kernel/gentoo-sources:unwanted.version.here

Removing the old kernel[edit | edit source]

See the kernel removal article.

See also[edit | edit source]

External resources[edit | edit source]

This article is issued from Gentoo. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.