Describe how to build kernels on another system (with and without cross-compiling), as building locally can be quite painfully on some slow systems. This is done in an add-on section, as it would make the step-by-step guide to complicated if this special case would be described there. Signed-off-by: Thorsten Leemhuis <linux@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> --- .../verify-bugs-and-bisect-regressions.rst | 78 ++++++++++++++++++- 1 file changed, 74 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-) diff --git a/Documentation/admin-guide/verify-bugs-and-bisect-regressions.rst b/Documentation/admin-guide/verify-bugs-and-bisect-regressions.rst index 1987c827211fce..6193c797642732 100644 --- a/Documentation/admin-guide/verify-bugs-and-bisect-regressions.rst +++ b/Documentation/admin-guide/verify-bugs-and-bisect-regressions.rst @@ -276,6 +276,10 @@ Preparations: set up everything to build your own kernels The following steps lay the groundwork for all further tasks. +Note: the instructions assume you are building and testing on the same +machine; if you want to compile the kernel on another system, check +:ref:`Build kernels on a different machine <buildhost_bis>` below. + .. _backup_bissbs: * Create a fresh backup and put system repair and restore tools at hand, just @@ -2103,11 +2107,77 @@ problems will arise if the kernelrelease identifier exceeds 63 characters. [:ref:`back to step-by-step guide <introoptional_bissbs>`]. -Additional reading material -=========================== +Additional information +====================== + +.. _buildhost_bis: + +Build kernels on a different machine +------------------------------------ + +To compile kernels on another system, slightly alter the step-by-step guide's +instructions: + +* Start following the guide on the machine where you want to install and test + the kernels later. + +* After executing ':ref:`Boot into the working kernel and briefly use the + apparently broken feature <bootworking_bissbs>`', save the list of loaded + modules to a file using ``lsmod > ~/test-machine-lsmod``. Then locate the + build configuration for the running kernel (see ':ref:`Start defining the + build configuration for your kernel <oldconfig_bisref>`' for hints on where + to find it) and store it as '~/test-machine-config-working'. Transfer both + files to the home directory of your build host. + +* Continue the guide on the build host (e.g. with ':ref:`Ensure to have enough + free space for building [...] <diskspace_bissbs>`'). + +* When you reach ':ref:`Start preparing a kernel build configuration[...] + <oldconfig_bissbs>`': before running ``make olddefconfig`` for the first time, + execute the following command to base your configuration on the one from the + test machine's 'working' kernel:: + + cp ~/test-machine-config-working ~/linux/.config + +* During the next step to ':ref:`disable any apparently superfluous kernel + modules <localmodconfig_bissbs>`' use the following command instead:: + + yes '' | make localmodconfig LSMOD=~/lsmod_foo-machine localmodconfig + +* Continue the guide, but ignore the instructions outlining how to compile, + install, and reboot into a kernel every time they come up. Instead build + like this:: -Further sources ---------------- + cp ~/kernel-config-working .config + make olddefconfig && + make -j $(nproc --all) targz-pkg + + This will generate a gzipped tar file whose name is printed in the last + line shown; for example, a kernel with the kernelrelease identifier + '6.0.0-rc1-local-g928a87efa423' built for x86 machines usually will + be stored as '~/linux/linux-6.0.0-rc1-local-g928a87efa423-x86.tar.gz'. + + Copy that file to your test machine's home directory. + +* Switch to the test machine to check if you have enough space to hold another + kernel. Then extract the file you transferred:: + + sudo tar -xvzf ~/linux-6.0.0-rc1-local-g928a87efa423-x86.tar.gz -C / + + Afterwards :ref:`generate the initramfs and add the kernel to your boot + loader's configuration <install_bisref>`; on some distributions the following + command will take care of both these tasks:: + + sudo /sbin/installkernel 6.0.0-rc1-local-g928a87efa423 /boot/vmlinuz-6.0.0-rc1-local-g928a87efa423 + + Now reboot and ensure you started the intended kernel. + +This approach even works when building for another architecture: just install +cross-compilers and add the appropriate parameters to every invocation of make +(e.g. ``make ARCH=arm64 CROSS_COMPILE=aarch64-linux-gnu- [...]``). + +Additional reading material +--------------------------- * The `man page for 'git bisect' <https://git-scm.com/docs/git-bisect>`_ and `fighting regressions with 'git bisect' <https://git-scm.com/docs/git-bisect-lk2009.html>`_ -- 2.44.0
