Need help building my kernel. **SOLVED**

todd93 · l33t Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 625 Location: Missouri

I just finished a fresh install of Gentoo, got it up and running using genkernel. Now that I'm up and running, I'm looking at building the right kernel. In the past, I've used Pappy's seeds, and enjoyed using a variety of different kernels, I think my favorite in the day was vanilla-sources. It's been a while, and for the most part, I have forgotten how I got this stuff to really work. I was hoping someone could help guide me through the process, as I have always been confused on certain things built in, as opposed to build as Modules. I know that in certain circumstances, each are required at certain times, etc.... As I type this, I have no sound working, so I'm just sort of at a bare minimum here, like I said, the goal was to get up and running. I will say, my time is limited, I usually only have time to seriously work on this during the weekends... Occasionally throughout the week, but not often..

Thanks

Todd

figueroa · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2022 3:59 am Post subject:

I am not the best user to guide another in configuring the kernel, but I do it and have my method and my opinions.

1. Use sys-kernel/gentoo-sources. It's the vanilla kernel with beneficial patches most users want.

2. Since everything is not yet working, you can try a couple of things to learn what it takes to get all your devices working. I suggest that you install the Gentoo binary kernel sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel-bin or the distribution kernel sys-kernel/gentoo-kernel and see if all your devices are working. If so, you can learn from it. For example, you can use lspci -v and lsusb -v to learn about your hardware and the modules that are making it work. With the output from lspci and lsusb you can do Internet searches with your hardware specific to learn further details about kernel settings for your devices. lsusb will show you the kernel modules that have been loaded.

Alternatively, you can boot from another general distribution like Ubuntu, or Linux-Mint, or MX-Linux, doing the same thing as suggested in the paragraph above.

Pay special attention to the modules that have been loaded with the output from lsmod. You could build in the hardware support for those modules, or build them as modules. Note, that sound and network devices may sometimes (or often) work better when built as modules that are loaded on-demand by udev.

3. You will likely also need to emerge sys-kernel/linux-firmware for some of your hardware.

4. I use /etc/portage/package.mask in order to not be inundated with bleeding edge kernel updates and I don't need the grief from following the bleeding edge. I decide what LTS kernel version to follow and keep up with that series whenever Gentoo upstream provides an update, roughly every six weeks or so. I'm currently following the 5.10 series and running 5.10.103. Here is my current mask entry for gentoo-sources. (On several machines, I'm still following the 4.9 series.)

Juippisi · Developer Joined: 30 Sep 2005 Posts: 759 Location: /home

If I remember correctly, 'genkernel --install all' should pretty much build all in to get a working kernel. But you have other alternatives too. Like installing gentoo-kernel or gentoo-kernel-bin to get a working system. Start stripping unneeded modules from there.

You can do this with 'genkernel --kernel-config=/path/to/your/previous-kernel.config --menuconfig --install all' or by editing savedconfig from gentoo-kernel.
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Savedconfig
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Project:Distribution_Kernel#Modifying_kernel_configuration

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2022 8:46 am Post subject:

todd93,

Here's my very old method.
The method is still valid but much of the detail has changed.

Pappy expanded on that with his kernel seeds project.
Again, the method is correct but the detail has changed.

You need very little in the kernel to be able to boot.
The following need to be built in.

1. The partition table driver,
2. Either, the SCSI stack, including the driver for your HDD chipset, or NVMe support.
3. The driver for your root filesystem.
That will get you to a login: prompt.
4. To see the prompt, you need a console driver too.

To actually log in, a keyboard driver is useful, plus the driver for the hardware its attached to. However, modules work there and for almost everything else.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

todd93 · l33t Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 625 Location: Missouri

I've seen some great advice here, I've gleaned a few things from it, one, it's best to get a working kernel and just stick with it for as long as possible... In order to do that, I would have to be shown how to mask all kernels after the version I'm using, until I'm ready to upgrade the kernel, which won't be too often. One problem I had in my previous installation is that it seems like I was configuring kernels a lot more than I really should have been.

Another that is quite helpful is what actually has to be built into the kernel. I see it's a relatively small list of things, which is good. I do realize that I can build other things in that would probably work better being built in, but for the most part, modules seem to be the best route.

I don't have any sound in my user account, I think it may be because I haven't added the correct permissions for that..

figueroa · Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2022 3:17 am Post subject:

For masking, see my #4 in my post above.

EDITED -- ADDED: I'm not sure about "as long as possible." I think one's kernel version or series should be thoughtfully considered. Here are the things I think about regarding kernel version:
1. I do want a custom-built Gentoo kernel, therefore sys-kernel/gentoo-sources
2. I want a kernel that supports all my hardware.
3. I want a kernel that behaves well.
4. I want an LTS kernel series I can keep a long time. See: https://www.kernel.org/category/releases.html
5. I want a kernel that is currently supported; still gets bug fixes and security updates.

I was happy for a long time with the 4.9 series on my main desktop computer (and I'm still running 4.9 on everything else), but I knew about a year ago I would need to learn new things and move ahead or eventually get left behind. I'd moved up to 4.14 for a while, then, 4.19 for a couple of months, then 5.4 for even longer, then settled on 5.10 for the long haul. The whole transition took place over about six months. I expect I'll be running the 5.10 series for 2-4 years.
_________________
Andy Figueroa
hp pavilion hpe h8-1260t/2AB5; spinning rust x3
i7-2600 @ 3.40GHz; 16 gb; Radeon HD 7570
amd64/23.0/split-usr/desktop (stable), OpenRC, -systemd -pulseaudio -uefi

Goverp · Advocate Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 2202

todd93 · l33t Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 625 Location: Missouri

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2022 1:08 pm Post subject:

todd93,

Try

pietinger · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2022 1:13 pm Post subject:

todd93,

forget pappy's seeds. You dont need it and you can do a kernel configuration by yourself. Also dont try to work with "lspci -n"; do an "lspci -k" (after booting with minimalCD or rescueCD) and write down all used modules (do the same with "lsmod" after). Do you know how to search with / in "make menuconfig" ? If yes, this is all you need ... and a list of links:

1. For choosing an appropriate kernel read: https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pietinger/Tutorials/Selecting_a_convenient_kernel_version

2. To be sure clean all recent you have done with "make distclean" and then go into "make menuconfig".

3. The first article you need is our amd64 handbook: https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Handbook:AMD64/Installation/Kernel

4. You can read also:
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Kernel/Gentoo_Kernel_Configuration_Guide
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Kernel/Configuration

5. Then you need some wiki articles. Here is a link list in my german guide: https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-1112778.html
(if you want you can translate with google; dont use my basic options because it works only for a NO-Multilib installation; In this guide nr.5 says: Search with / for your ethernet module and activate it; nr. 6 says: Do the same with all other modules you have found with "lspci -k")

todd93 · l33t Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 625 Location: Missouri

todd93 · l33t Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 625 Location: Missouri

Actually, I overlooked the ethernet controller, it is built in as well

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2022 2:28 pm Post subject:

todd93,

todd93 · l33t Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 625 Location: Missouri

Ok, major snag...

todd93 · l33t Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 625 Location: Missouri

Ok, I forgot to emerge usbutils lol....

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2022 5:17 pm Post subject:

todd93,

Your default audio device is

todd93 · l33t Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 625 Location: Missouri

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2022 10:05 pm Post subject:

todd93,

Both ways work.

Sound card order swapping is done with a module parameter. How you apply the module parameter depends on how snd_hda_intel is configured.
The parameter has to be passed at code initialisation time.

Meanwhile, a /etc/asound.conf file containing

todd93 · l33t Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 625 Location: Missouri

NeddySeagoon,

That didn't seem to work either, I'm going to put the sound issue on hold a bit, I have configured a new kernel, hopefully it will boot without too much of an issue (unlikely), it's compiling now, I'll see if I can get that up and running, possibly it will fix it. I know that I have modularized quite a bit , and I know that ALSA is compiled as a module in the new kernel, that may help to fix my problem... Stay tuned lol.

Todd

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 11:33 am Post subject:

todd93,

As well as the above, you need to set the sound card knobs correctly.

All of of the IEC or S/PDIF controls must be muted.
If fact, mute everything except Master, Front and PCM. Set their sliders to about 70%

If you have a Headphones control, some card swap Front with Headphones, so you need to do two tests
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

todd93 · l33t Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 625 Location: Missouri

NeddySeagoon,

OK, I did that, emerged an MP3 player, and when I open an MP3, it gives the following error:

todd93 · l33t Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 625 Location: Missouri

todd93 · l33t Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 625 Location: Missouri

Ok, everyone, I'm going to mark this as "SOLVED"... I'm still having trouble with my sound, but only in web browsers, it's working fine on the rest of the system... So, I'll make a new thread there, only after I have exhausted searches trying to find the answer in existing threads..

Thanks again for all the help, I greatly appreciate it!