Kernels

So you've decided to swap a kernel in Arch

Before You Begin

• ArchWiki Link
  • Note the difference between official and 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 Extra repo

• linux-zen
  • List of features here

   pacman -S linux-zen{,-headers,-docs}

lts

Long term support kernel

• Official: 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^AUR package/kernel is typically updated and directed at the most recent version of Ryzen, previous generations can use "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 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 Hardware Passthru/IOMMU stuff, available on AUR

• linux-vfio
• Unofficial User Repos (From May 2020)
  • markzz
  • slowbro
  • You can then install with Pacman, otherwise use yay
• linux-vfio-lts^AUR
  • Might require keys per pinned comment

   gpg --recv-keys 79BE3E4300411886
   gpg --recv-keys 38DBBDC86092693E

• linux-zen-vfio^AUR

pf

linux-pf^AUR

• Current list of Features 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^AUR

ck

Linux-ck run's MuQSS and CK's patchset

• linux-ck^AUR
  • Unofficial Repos: 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