Install mainline Linux kernel on Ubuntu-based distribution.
Add a PPA to your system’s software sources.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:cappelikan/ppa
Update package index.
$ sudo apt update
Inspect mainline package.
$ apt info mainline
Package: mainline Version: 1.0.14-0~202109142035~ubuntu21.04.1 Priority: extra Section: utils Maintainer: Brian K. White <b.kenyon.w@gmail.com> Installed-Size: 775 kB Depends: libc6 (>= 2.4), libgdk-pixbuf-2.0-0 (>= 2.22.0), libgee-0.8-2 (>= 0.8.3), libglib2.0-0 (>= 2.37.3), libgtk-3-0 (>= 3.16.2), libjson-glib-1.0-0 (>= 1.5.2), libvte-2.91-0, aptitude, aria2, lsb-release Download-Size: 151 kB APT-Manual-Installed: yes APT-Sources: http://ppa.launchpad.net/cappelikan/ppa/ubuntu hirsute/main amd64 Packages Description: Kernel Update Utility for Ubuntu-based distributions Utility for installing mainline Linux kernels on Ubuntu-based distributions. Downloads and installs kernel packages from kernel.ubuntu.com. . This is a fork and continuation of the final GPL version of the original author's package "ukuu".
Install mainline package.
$ sudo apt install mainline
Display help information.
$ mainline
mainline 1.0.15
Distribution: Ubuntu 21.04
Architecture: amd64
Running kernel: 5.11.0-34-generic
mainline 1.0.15 - Ubuntu Mainline Kernel Installer
Syntax: mainline <command> [options]
Commands:
--check Check for kernel updates
--notify Check for kernel updates and notify current user
--list List all available mainline kernels
--list-installed List installed kernels
--install-latest Install latest mainline kernel
--install-point Install latest point update for current series
--install <name> Install specified mainline kernel(1)
--uninstall <name> Uninstall specified kernel(2)
--uninstall-old Uninstall kernels older than the running kernel
--download <name> Download specified kernels(2)
--clean-cache Remove files from application cache
Options:
--include-unstable Include unstable and RC releases
--hide-unstable Hide unstable and RC releases
--debug Enable verbose debugging output
--yes Assume Yes for all prompts (non-interactive mode)
--user Override user
Notes:
(1) A version string taken from the output of --list
(2) One or more version strings (comma-separated) taken from the output of --list
Check kernel updates.
$ mainline --check
mainline 1.0.15 Distribution: Ubuntu 21.04 Architecture: amd64 Running kernel: 5.11.0-34-generic Fetching index from kernel.ubuntu.com... OK ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Found installed: 5.11.0-31.33 Found installed: 5.11.0-22.23 Found installed: 5.11.0.34.36 Found installed: 5.11.0-34.36 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Latest update: 5.14.5 Latest point update: 5.11.20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
List available kernels.
❯ mainline --list
mainline 1.0.15
Distribution: Ubuntu 21.04
Architecture: amd64
Running kernel: 5.11.0-34-generic
Fetching index from kernel.ubuntu.com...
OK
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Found installed: 5.11.0-31.33
Found installed: 5.11.0-22.23
Found installed: 5.11.0.34.36
Found installed: 5.11.0-34.36
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
======================================================================
Available Kernels
======================================================================
5.14.5
5.14.4
5.14.3
5.14.2
5.14.1
5.14.0
[...]
5.11.2
5.11.1
5.11.0.34.36 Installed
5.11.0.31.33 Installed
5.11.0.22.23 Installed
5.11.0
5.10.66
5.10.65
5.10.64
[...]
5.0.16
5.0.15
5.0.14
5.0.13
5.0.12
5.0.10
5.0.5
5.0.0
Install latest mainline, latest point update or specific kernel.
❯ sudo mainline --install-latest
❯ sudo mainline --install-point
❯ sudo mainline --install 5.11.20
mainline 1.0.15
Distribution: Ubuntu 21.04
Architecture: amd64
Running kernel: 5.11.0-34-generic
Fetching index from kernel.ubuntu.com...
OK
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Found installed: 5.11.0-31.33
Found installed: 5.11.0-22.23
Found installed: 5.11.0.34.36
Found installed: 5.11.0-34.36
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Downloading: 'amd64/linux-headers-5.11.20-051120_5.11.20-051120.202105120733_all.deb'...
OK
Downloading: 'amd64/linux-modules-5.11.20-051120-generic_5.11.20-051120.202105120733_amd64.deb'...
OK
Downloading: 'amd64/linux-image-unsigned-5.11.20-051120-generic_5.11.20-051120.202105120733_amd64.deb'...
OK
Downloading: 'amd64/linux-headers-5.11.20-051120-generic_5.11.20-051120.202105120733_amd64.deb'...
OK
Preparing to install '5.11.20'
kinst() flist += amd64/linux-headers-5.11.20-051120_5.11.20-051120.202105120733_all.deb
kinst() flist += amd64/linux-modules-5.11.20-051120-generic_5.11.20-051120.202105120733_amd64.deb
kinst() flist += amd64/linux-image-unsigned-5.11.20-051120-generic_5.11.20-051120.202105120733_amd64.deb
kinst() flist += amd64/linux-headers-5.11.20-051120-generic_5.11.20-051120.202105120733_amd64.deb
Selecting previously unselected package linux-headers-5.11.20-051120.
(Reading database ... 372121 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../linux-headers-5.11.20-051120_5.11.20-051120.202105120733_all.deb ...
Unpacking linux-headers-5.11.20-051120 (5.11.20-051120.202105120733) ...
Selecting previously unselected package linux-modules-5.11.20-051120-generic.
Preparing to unpack .../linux-modules-5.11.20-051120-generic_5.11.20-051120.202105120733_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking linux-modules-5.11.20-051120-generic (5.11.20-051120.202105120733) ...
Selecting previously unselected package linux-image-unsigned-5.11.20-051120-generic.
Preparing to unpack .../linux-image-unsigned-5.11.20-051120-generic_5.11.20-051120.202105120733_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking linux-image-unsigned-5.11.20-051120-generic (5.11.20-051120.202105120733) ...
Selecting previously unselected package linux-headers-5.11.20-051120-generic.
Preparing to unpack .../linux-headers-5.11.20-051120-generic_5.11.20-051120.202105120733_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking linux-headers-5.11.20-051120-generic (5.11.20-051120.202105120733) ...
Setting up linux-headers-5.11.20-051120 (5.11.20-051120.202105120733) ...
Setting up linux-headers-5.11.20-051120-generic (5.11.20-051120.202105120733) ...
/etc/kernel/header_postinst.d/dkms:
* dkms: running auto installation service for kernel 5.11.20-051120-generic
Kernel preparation unnecessary for this kernel. Skipping...
applying patch disable_fstack-clash-protection_fcf-protection.patch...patching file Kbuild
Hunk #1 succeeded at 82 (offset 11 lines).
Building module:
cleaning build area...
unset ARCH; [ ! -h /usr/bin/cc ] && export CC=/usr/bin/gcc; env NV_VERBOSE=1 'make' -j4 NV_EXCLUDE_BUILD_MODULES='' KERNEL_UNAME=5.11.20-051120-generic IGNORE_XEN_PRESENCE=
1 IGNORE_CC_MISMATCH=1 SYSSRC=/lib/modules/5.11.20-051120-generic/build LD=/usr/bin/ld.bfd modules...............
Signing module:
- /var/lib/dkms/nvidia/460.80/5.11.20-051120-generic/x86_64/module/nvidia.ko
- /var/lib/dkms/nvidia/460.80/5.11.20-051120-generic/x86_64/module/nvidia-drm.ko
- /var/lib/dkms/nvidia/460.80/5.11.20-051120-generic/x86_64/module/nvidia-modeset.ko
- /var/lib/dkms/nvidia/460.80/5.11.20-051120-generic/x86_64/module/nvidia-uvm.ko
EFI variables are not supported on this system
/sys/firmware/efi/efivars not found, aborting.
cleaning build area...
DKMS: build completed.
nvidia.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
- Original module
- No original module exists within this kernel
- Installation
- Installing to /lib/modules/5.11.20-051120-generic/updates/dkms/
nvidia-modeset.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
- Original module
- No original module exists within this kernel
- Installation
- Installing to /lib/modules/5.11.20-051120-generic/updates/dkms/
nvidia-drm.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
- Original module
- No original module exists within this kernel
- Installation
- Installing to /lib/modules/5.11.20-051120-generic/updates/dkms/
nvidia-uvm.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
- Original module
- No original module exists within this kernel
- Installation
- Installing to /lib/modules/5.11.20-051120-generic/updates/dkms/
depmod...
DKMS: install completed.
Kernel preparation unnecessary for this kernel. Skipping...
Building module:
cleaning build area...
make -j4 KERNELRELEASE=5.11.20-051120-generic -C /lib/modules/5.11.20-051120-generic/build M=/var/lib/dkms/virtualbox/6.1.26/build.......
Signing module:
- /var/lib/dkms/virtualbox/6.1.26/5.11.20-051120-generic/x86_64/module/vboxnetflt.ko
- /var/lib/dkms/virtualbox/6.1.26/5.11.20-051120-generic/x86_64/module/vboxnetadp.ko
- /var/lib/dkms/virtualbox/6.1.26/5.11.20-051120-generic/x86_64/module/vboxdrv.ko
EFI variables are not supported on this system
/sys/firmware/efi/efivars not found, aborting.
cleaning build area...
DKMS: build completed.
vboxdrv.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
- Original module
- No original module exists within this kernel
- Installation
- Installing to /lib/modules/5.11.20-051120-generic/updates/dkms/
vboxnetadp.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
- Original module
- No original module exists within this kernel
- Installation
- Installing to /lib/modules/5.11.20-051120-generic/updates/dkms/
vboxnetflt.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
- Original module
- No original module exists within this kernel
- Installation
- Installing to /lib/modules/5.11.20-051120-generic/updates/dkms/
depmod...
DKMS: install completed.
...done.
Setting up linux-modules-5.11.20-051120-generic (5.11.20-051120.202105120733) ...
Setting up linux-image-unsigned-5.11.20-051120-generic (5.11.20-051120.202105120733) ...
I: /boot/vmlinuz.old is now a symlink to vmlinuz-5.11.0-34-generic
I: /boot/initrd.img.old is now a symlink to initrd.img-5.11.0-34-generic
I: /boot/vmlinuz is now a symlink to vmlinuz-5.11.20-051120-generic
I: /boot/initrd.img is now a symlink to initrd.img-5.11.20-051120-generic
Processing triggers for linux-image-unsigned-5.11.20-051120-generic (5.11.20-051120.202105120733) ...
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/dkms:
* dkms: running auto installation service for kernel 5.11.20-051120-generic
...done.
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools:
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-5.11.20-051120-generic
I: The initramfs will attempt to resume from /dev/dm-2
I: (/dev/mapper/vgubuntu-swap_1)
I: Set the RESUME variable to override this.
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub:
Sourcing file `/etc/default/grub'
Sourcing file `/etc/default/grub.d/init-select.cfg'
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-5.11.20-051120-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-5.11.20-051120-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-5.11.0-34-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-34-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-5.11.0-31-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-31-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-5.11.0-22-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-22-generic
Found memtest86+ image: /memtest86+.elf
Found memtest86+ image: /memtest86+.bin
done
Installation completed. A reboot is required to use the new kernel.
List installed kernels.
$ mainline --list-installed
mainline 1.0.15 Distribution: Ubuntu 21.04 Architecture: amd64 Running kernel: 5.11.0-34-generic ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Found installed: 5.11.0-31.33 Found installed: 5.11.0-22.23 Found installed: 5.11.0.34.36 Found installed: 5.11.20-051120.202105120733 Found installed: 5.11.0-34.36 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Uninstall kernels older than the running one or a specific one.
$ sudo mainline --uninstall-old
$ sudo mainline --uninstall 5.13.18
mainline 1.0.15 Distribution: Ubuntu 21.04 Architecture: amd64 Running kernel: 5.11.0-34-generic Fetching index from kernel.ubuntu.com... OK ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Found installed: 5.11.0-31.33 Found installed: 5.13.18-051318.202109161133 Found installed: 5.11.0-22.23 Found installed: 5.11.0.34.36 Found installed: 5.11.0-34.36 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Preparing to uninstall selected kernels (Reading database ... 406995 files and directories currently installed.) Removing linux-headers-5.13.18-051318-generic (5.13.18-051318.202109161133) ... Removing linux-headers-5.13.18-051318 (5.13.18-051318.202109161133) ... Removing linux-modules-5.13.18-051318-generic (5.13.18-051318.202109161133) ... Purging configuration files for linux-modules-5.13.18-051318-generic (5.13.18-051318.202109161133) ... dpkg: warning: while removing linux-modules-5.13.18-051318-generic, directory '/lib/modules/5.13.18-051318-generic' not empty so not removed Removing linux-image-unsigned-5.13.18-051318-generic (5.13.18-051318.202109161133) ... I: /boot/vmlinuz.old is now a symlink to vmlinuz-5.11.0-31-generic I: /boot/initrd.img.old is now a symlink to initrd.img-5.11.0-31-generic I: /boot/vmlinuz is now a symlink to vmlinuz-5.11.0-34-generic I: /boot/initrd.img is now a symlink to initrd.img-5.11.0-34-generic /var/lib/dpkg/info/linux-image-unsigned-5.13.18-051318-generic.postrm ... removing pending trigger /etc/kernel/postrm.d/initramfs-tools: update-initramfs: Deleting /boot/initrd.img-5.13.18-051318-generic /etc/kernel/postrm.d/zz-update-grub: Sourcing file `/etc/default/grub' Sourcing file `/etc/default/grub.d/init-select.cfg' Generating grub configuration file ... Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-5.11.0-34-generic Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-34-generic Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-5.11.0-31-generic Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-31-generic Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-5.11.0-22-generic Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-22-generic Found memtest86+ image: /memtest86+.elf Found memtest86+ image: /memtest86+.bin done Purging configuration files for linux-image-unsigned-5.13.18-051318-generic (5.13.18-051318.202109161133) ... Un-install completed
In case of trouble, you can always clean the cache.
$ mainline --clean-cache
mainline 1.0.15 Distribution: Ubuntu 21.04 Architecture: amd64 Running kernel: 5.11.0-34-generic Removed cached files in '/home/milosz/.cache/mainline'
You can also use a graphical user interface.
$ mainline-gtk
Beware, kernel upgrade is not always possible due to the used version of the standard C library.
[...] dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of linux-headers-5.13.18-051318-generic: linux-headers-5.13.18-051318-generic depends on libc6 (>= 2.34); however: Version of libc6:amd64 on system is 2.33-0ubuntu5. [...]
