Custom kernel to try

sleekmason · 2020-12-13 16:08:23

Hello all,

If someone could take the time to install my stable kernel build to let me know it boots on others computers, I would greatly appreciate it. I only have the one laptop to test on:)

What the kernel is:

- amd64
- Linux-image 5.4.83 long term kernel from https://www.kernel.org/
- Long term support kernel with the latest updates.
- Debugging mostly removed.
- support for ntfs read and write.
- timer frequency of 1000 vs 250 for desktop use.
- The ability to access the .config through /proc/config.gz (or dmesg in a terminal).
- Compressed cache for swap pages.

Just a few items to get started. Bunches more over time if everything pans out.

The cool part here is that if everything works like it should when you test, I will not only be keeping two versions (stable and RC) that I will continue to improve upon, but I'll even do custom requests to have drivers turned on.

Got an old ATI Rage 128 card? No problem - well, at least I can turn it on and push a test copy;)

What to do:

First run:

systemd-analyze

to get a crude benchmark of start times on your existing kernel. Store this in a file somewhere to compare with the new one.

Download the kernel image and headers from:
https://github.com/sleekmason/Kernel-Stable

unzip the file.

Open a terminal in the folder containing the kernel and headers.
Then:

sudo dpkg -i *.deb

This will install the linux kernel and headers onto your computer and update grub.

Reboot into the new kernel. If for some reason it does not work, reboot into your old kernel and remove this one using:
sudo apt remove <name of linux-image name of linux-headers>

In any event, after boot, run systemd-analyze again and compare the two, and also open up a few programs to see how they respond. Thats it.

I can't go any further unto I hear from somebody telling me this works on something other than a 2009 Dell studio. Please:)

Last edited by sleekmason (2020-12-16 15:06:29)

unklar · 2020-12-13 18:35:18

^Here you go smile

unklar@T500:~$ systemd-analyze
Startup finished in 8.283s (kernel) + 27.185s (userspace) = 35.469s 
graphical.target reached after 27.172s in userspace
unklar@T500:~$ inxi -SM
System:    Host: T500 Kernel: 4.19.0-13-amd64 x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: Openbox 3.6.1 
           Distro: BunsenLabs GNU/Linux 10.5 (Lithium) 
Machine:   Type: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 20564QG v: ThinkPad T500 serial: <root required> 
           Mobo: LENOVO model: 20564QG serial: <root required> BIOS: LENOVO v: 6FET83WW (3.13 ) date: 03/15/2010 
=======================================================================
unklar@T500:~$ systemd-analyze
Startup finished in 17.354s (kernel) + 26.922s (userspace) = 44.277s 
graphical.target reached after 26.905s in userspace
unklar@T500:~$ inxi -SM
System:    Host: T500 Kernel: 5.4.83 x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: Openbox 3.6.1 
           Distro: BunsenLabs GNU/Linux 10.5 (Lithium) 
Machine:   Type: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 20564QG v: ThinkPad T500 serial: <root required> 
           Mobo: LENOVO model: 20564QG serial: <root required> BIOS: LENOVO v: 6FET83WW (3.13 ) date: 03/15/2010

I cannot serve with "more modern" machines. tongue

sleekmason · 2020-12-13 19:05:35

unklar wrote:

^Here you go smile

unklar@T500:~$ systemd-analyze
Startup finished in 8.283s (kernel) + 27.185s (userspace) = 35.469s 
graphical.target reached after 27.172s in userspace
unklar@T500:~$ inxi -SM
System:    Host: T500 Kernel: 4.19.0-13-amd64 x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: Openbox 3.6.1 
           Distro: BunsenLabs GNU/Linux 10.5 (Lithium) 
Machine:   Type: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 20564QG v: ThinkPad T500 serial: <root required> 
           Mobo: LENOVO model: 20564QG serial: <root required> BIOS: LENOVO v: 6FET83WW (3.13 ) date: 03/15/2010 
=======================================================================
unklar@T500:~$ systemd-analyze
Startup finished in 17.354s (kernel) + 26.922s (userspace) = 44.277s 
graphical.target reached after 26.905s in userspace
unklar@T500:~$ inxi -SM
System:    Host: T500 Kernel: 5.4.83 x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: Openbox 3.6.1 
           Distro: BunsenLabs GNU/Linux 10.5 (Lithium) 
Machine:   Type: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 20564QG v: ThinkPad T500 serial: <root required> 
           Mobo: LENOVO model: 20564QG serial: <root required> BIOS: LENOVO v: 6FET83WW (3.13 ) date: 03/15/2010

I cannot serve with "more modern" machines. tongue

Hmm. Surprised at the startup time. Could you kindly reboot and check systemd-analyze once more to make sure it wasn't a fluke/first time init?
and if not better, maybe post your dmesg output?

Last edited by sleekmason (2020-12-13 19:06:19)

sleekmason · 2020-12-13 21:55:51

Edit* had also put up an unstable image, but it wasn't working correctly. I'll post if I can get everything right:)

Last edited by sleekmason (2020-12-17 21:03:12)

unklar · 2020-12-14 08:45:02

^2.Reboot these kernels:

4.19.0-13-amd64
systemd-analyze
Startup finished in 8.461s (kernel) + 28.021s (userspace) = 36.482s 
graphical.target reached after 28.005s in userspace

5.4.83 x86_64
systemd-analyze
Startup finished in 6.934s (kernel) + 37.403s (userspace) = 44.337s 
graphical.target reached after 33.340s in userspace

sleekmason · 2020-12-14 10:41:32

Thank you @ unklar!

Could still use a couple more if anybody is willing to take a few minutes:)

unklar · 2020-12-14 14:01:25

your are welcome smile

sleekmason · 2020-12-15 00:54:33

Realized I needed a laptop with different specs than the studio. Finally found a cheap extra:)

These systemd-analyze numbers are more in line with the studio as well.

sleekmason@ai:~$ systemd-analyze
Startup finished in 12.187s (firmware) + 9.046s (loader) + 10.118s (kernel) + 12.816s (userspace) = 44.169s 
graphical.target reached after 12.375s in userspace
sleekmason@ai:~$ uname -a
Linux ai 4.19.0-13-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 4.19.160-2 (2020-11-28) x86_64 GNU/Linux

sleekmason@ai:~$ systemd-analyze
Startup finished in 11.874s (firmware) + 4.744s (loader) + 8.416s (kernel) + 10.847s (userspace) = 35.882s 
graphical.target reached after 10.816s in userspace
sleekmason@ai:~$ uname -a
Linux ai 5.4.83 #1 SMP Sat Dec 12 21:25:45 CST 2020 x86_64 GNU/Linux

sleekmason@ai:~$ inxi -b
System:
  Host: ai Kernel: 5.4.83 x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: LXDE 0.10.0 
  Distro: Debian GNU/Linux 10 (buster) 
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: HP product: HP 15 Notebook PC v: Type1 - ProductConfigId 
  serial: <root required> 
  Mobo: Hewlett-Packard model: 233F v: 06.27 serial: <root required> UEFI: Insyde 
  v: F.26 date: 11/18/2015 
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 14.2 Wh condition: 24.9/24.9 Wh (100%) 
CPU:
  Quad Core: Intel Pentium N3540 type: MCP speed: 500 MHz min/max: 500/2666 MHz 
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Atom Processor Z36xxx/Z37xxx Series Graphics & Display 
  driver: i915 v: kernel 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.4 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa 
  resolution: 1366x768~60Hz 
  Message: Unable to show advanced data. Required tool glxinfo missing. 
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8188EE Wireless Network Adapter driver: rtl8188ee 
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8101/2/6E PCI Express Fast/Gigabit Ethernet driver: r8169 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 465.76 GiB used: 3.95 GiB (0.8%) 
Info:
  Processes: 141 Uptime: 17m Memory: 3.74 GiB used: 778.8 MiB (20.3%) Shell: bash 
  inxi: 3.0.32

unklar · 2020-12-15 10:48:37

sleekmason wrote:

Open a terminal in the folder you put these. Keeping them in downloads is fine:)
Then:
sudo dpkg -i linux-image-5.4.83_5.4.83-1_amd64.deb linux-headers-5.4.83_5.4.83-1_amd64.deb
This will install the linux kernel and headers onto your computer and update grub.

You can also simplify this for the user:

sudo dpkg -i *.deb

This also does the job wink

sleekmason · 2020-12-15 12:46:08

You can also simplify this for the user:

sudo dpkg -i *.deb

This also does the job

Good stuff!! Thank you! More as they come please. big_smile

#1 2020-12-13 16:08:23

Custom kernel to try

#2 2020-12-13 18:35:18

Re: Custom kernel to try

#3 2020-12-13 19:05:35

Re: Custom kernel to try

#4 2020-12-13 21:55:51

Re: Custom kernel to try

#5 2020-12-14 08:45:02

Re: Custom kernel to try

#6 2020-12-14 10:41:32

Re: Custom kernel to try

#7 2020-12-14 14:01:25

Re: Custom kernel to try

#8 2020-12-15 00:54:33

Re: Custom kernel to try

#9 2020-12-15 10:48:37

Re: Custom kernel to try

#10 2020-12-15 12:46:08

Re: Custom kernel to try

Board footer