Encryptid: Created page with "So you've decided to swap a kernel in Arch =Before You Begin= * [https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Kernel ArchWiki Link] Note the difference between [https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Kernel#Officially_supported_kernels official] and [https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Kernel#Unofficial_kernels unofficial] kernels Official kernels can just use pacman to install ** Unofficial kernels need yay or an unofficial repo added to pacman * Highly recommend installi..."

2025-08-06T19:29:11Z

Created page with "So you've decided to swap a kernel in Arch =Before You Begin= * [https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Kernel ArchWiki Link] ** Note the difference between [https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Kernel#Officially_supported_kernels official] and [https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Kernel#Unofficial_kernels unofficial] kernels ** Official kernels can just use pacman to install ** Unofficial kernels need yay or an unofficial repo added to pacman * Highly recommend installi..."

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So you've decided to swap a kernel in Arch

=Before You Begin=
* [https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Kernel ArchWiki Link]
** Note the difference between [https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Kernel#Officially_supported_kernels official] and [https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Kernel#Unofficial_kernels unofficial] kernels
** Official kernels can just use pacman to install
** Unofficial kernels need yay or an unofficial repo added to pacman
* Highly recommend installing DKMS packages of things like nvidia or vmware

=Installation=
Couple installation methods are available and the process is typically the same for both:

* Check the AUR page (if you can)
** Check for pinned comments for unofficial user repositories (semi safe, trust users at your own risk!)
** Check comments for any recent issues
* Choose an installation method
** Install from unofficial pacman repo (Fast, semi safe)
** Install using yay -S (Slow, very safe)
* Cleanup

* Install using yay
yay -S linux-options{,-headers,-docs}

* Install using Unofficial Repo
** Modify /etc/pacman.conf with the repo information from the wiki
** Optional: Receive the signing key of the Key-ID prior to updating and installing
pacman-key --recv-key keyid
pacman-key --lsign-key keyid
pacman -Syu linux-options{,-headers,-docs}

* Cleanup
** Ensure your bootloader correctly has the options for the new kernel
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

=Official Kernels=
==zen==
Provides some performance enhancements and MUQSS scheduler, available from Arch's [https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/x86_64/linux-zen/ Extra repo]

* linux-zen
** List of features [https://liquorix.net/ here]
pacman -S linux-zen{,-headers,-docs}

==lts==
Long term support kernel

* Official: [https://archlinux.org/packages/core/x86_64/linux-lts/ linux-lts]
* Note that you will likely need LTS versions of some packages like nvidia-lts

=Unofficial Kernels=
==AMD/Ryzen==
Built and tweaked for AMD Ryzen CPUs.

'''Note''': The latest linux-amd[https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/linux-amd/ AUR] package/kernel is typically updated and directed at the most recent version of Ryzen, previous generations can use "znver2"[https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/linux-amd-znver2/ AUR] or similar packages for more specific tweaks and accommodations.

* Add the following to /etc/pacman.conf
[linuxkernels]
Server = http://nhameh.ovh/$repo/$arch
SigLevel = Optional TrustAll

==fsync==
From [https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Unofficial_user_repositories#valveaur Valve's AUR], applies fsync patch for steam games. DKMS is required for nvidia

* Note: If you have an issue receiving the signing keys, modify /etc/pacman.d/gnupg/gpg.conf
** Below works when booted into the installation media, on existing install just change this value in the config instead of running this
echo "keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com" >> /etc/pacman.d/gnupg/gpg.conf
* Receive signing keys
pacman-key --recv-key 8DC2CE3A3D245E64
pacman-key --lsign-key 8DC2CE3A3D245E64
* Add server lines to pacman.conf
echo "[valveaur]" >> /etc/pacman.conf
echo "Server = http://repo.steampowered.com/arch/valveaur" >> /etc/pacman.conf
* Install
pacman -Syu linux-fsync linux-fsync-headers

==vfio==
For [https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/PCI_passthrough_via_OVMF Hardware Passthru/IOMMU] stuff, available on [https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/linux-vfio AUR]
* linux-vfio
* Unofficial User Repos (From [https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/linux-vfio/#pinned-742690 May 2020])
** [https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Unofficial_user_repositories#markzz markzz]
** [https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Unofficial_user_repositories#slowbro slowbro]
** You can then install with Pacman, otherwise use yay
* linux-vfio-lts[https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/linux-vfio-lts/ AUR]
** Might require keys per [https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/linux-vfio-lts/#pinned-559070 pinned comment]
gpg --recv-keys 79BE3E4300411886
gpg --recv-keys 38DBBDC86092693E
* linux-zen-vfio[https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/linux-zen-vfio/ AUR]

==pf==
linux-pf[https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/linux-pf/ AUR]

* Current list of Features [https://gitlab.com/post-factum/pf-kernel/-/wikis/README Here]
* Add the following to /etc/pacman.conf
[home-thaodan]
Server = https://thaodan.de/public/archlinux/home-thaodan/x86_64/
* Use the following to get the pacman keys
sudo pacman-key --recv-keys BBFE2FD421597395E4FC8C8DF6C85FEE79D661A4
pacman-key --finger BBFE2FD421597395E4FC8C8DF6C85FEE79D661A4
sudo pacman-key --lsign-key BBFE2FD421597395E4FC8C8DF6C85FEE79D661A4
sudo pacman-key --refresh-keys

==pds==
linux-pds[https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/linux-pds/ AUR]

==ck==
[https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Linux-ck Linux-ck] run's MuQSS and CK's [http://ck.kolivas.org/patches/ patchset]
* linux-ck[https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/linux-ck/ AUR]
** Unofficial Repos: [https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Unofficial_user_repositories/Repo-ck Wiki]
* Add the following to /etc/pacman.conf
[repo-ck]
Server = https://mirror.lesviallon.fr/$repo/os/$arch
Server = http://repo-ck.com/$arch
* Use the following for pacman keys
pacman-key -r 5EE46C4C --keyserver hkp://pool.sks-keyservers.net && pacman-key --lsign-key 5EE46C4C

[[Category:Archlinux]]

Kernels - Revision history