I wanted to test out running the mainline kernel for some eBPF features that weren’t available to me. Below is a post on running the mainline kernel.
A mainline kernel is often needed for specific tasks such as installing eBPF, which requires the latest LLVM version (like llvm-17). Using the latest mainline kernel can help unlock these capabilities, allowing for advanced system tuning and development tasks.
How to Install a Mainline Kernel on Ubuntu
To install a mainline kernel on an Ubuntu system, follow these steps:
-
Download and install the mainline kernel script:
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pimlie/ubuntu-mainline-kernel.sh/master/ubuntu-mainline-kernel.sh sudo install ubuntu-mainline-kernel.sh /usr/local/bin/ -
Check for the latest available kernel version and install it:
sudo ubuntu-mainline-kernel.sh -c sudo ubuntu-mainline-kernel.sh -i -
Reboot the system to apply the changes:
sudo reboot -
Verify the installed kernel version:
uname -r
GUI Interface for Kernel Updates
For users who prefer a graphical interface, there is an alternative method to update the kernel using a GUI tool. Install the GUI tool by running the following commands:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:cappelikan/ppa
sudo apt update
sudo apt install mainline
Installing LLVM
LLVM is required for various development tasks, including working with eBPF. The latest version of LLVM can be installed using the following command:
bash -c "$(wget -O - https://apt.llvm.org/llvm.sh)"
This command downloads and executes a script to install the desired version of LLVM directly from the official repositories.
Conclusion
Installing a mainline kernel and LLVM on Ubuntu is straightforward and can provide the latest features and improvements for development and testing environments. Using scripts and tools simplifies the process and ensures the system is up to date with the latest software.