Linux – How to handle linux kernel updates when using a custom kernel

kernellinux

I need to use a custom kernel option at compile time (ACPI_REV_OVERRIDE_POSSIBLE) in order for my graphical card to work correctly with bumblebeed and nvidia drivers on my Dell XPS 15 9560. I'm using ArchLinux.
Every few days, there is a new kernel release (4.11.5, 4.11.6, …).

How should I handle those kernel updates ? Do I need to recompile the kernel manually each time ? (I made a small script to accelerate the process, but some stuff still need to be done manually, and it take a REALLY LONG TIME to compile). Is it possible to automate the process such as each time a kernel update shows in, the package manager compiles the kernel itself with the option I specified ? Or with a script ?

Best Answer

That config line should exist in the /proc/config.gz file of any kernel you previously configured it in. You could do what I do, in a two-liner, on my Gentoo systems:

su -
cd /usr/src && cp -a linux-<new version> /dev/shm/ && ln -s /dev/shm/linux-<new version> linux && cd linux && zcat /proc/config.gz > .config && make olddefconfig && make -j<numcpus+1> bzImage modules && mount /boot && make modules_install install && grub-mkconfig > /boot/grub/grub.cfg && sync && reboot -hi

I'm typing this from memory on my mobile right now, and I always goof on the order of 'ln', and it might be "defoldconfig". But, basicallly, that's what I do every time. Works for me. :) YMMV. I'll edit later with corrections once I get a good terminal and shell. :)

I always compile on tmpfs, because nothing on a system is faster and more resilient to write-rot than RAM.

Check out 'make help' output when run in the kernel source directory for references, and the yummy Gentoo Wiki for even more good info.

https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Kernel/Upgrade/ https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/GRUB2

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