- Different Types of Kernel for Arch Linux and How to Use Them
- What type of kernel does Linux use?
- How do I change kernels in Arch?
- How much RAM do I need for Arch Linux?
- Is Arch Linux worth it?
- What is the latest kernel version for Arch Linux?
- What is the best Linux OS for programming?
- How long does Linux kernel compile take?
- Is Linux a kernel or OS?
- What does kernel do in Linux?
- What exactly is a kernel?
- Different Types of Kernel for Arch Linux and How to Use Them
- Different types of kernels available for Arch Linux
- Mainline kernel (package name: linux)
- LTS kernel (package name: linux-lts)
- Hardened kernel (package name: linux-hardened)
- Performance-tuned kernel (package name: linux-zen)
- How to switch kernels on Arch Linux
- Step 1: Install the kernel of your choice
- Step 2: Tweak the grub configuration file to add more kernel options
- Step 3: Re-generate the GRUB configuration file
- Conclusion
- Why and How to install the LTS kernel in Arch Linux
- What is the kernel?
- Why install the LTS kernel?
- How to install the LTS kernel in Arch Linux
- Benefits of the LTS Kernel
Different Types of Kernel for Arch Linux and How to Use Them
This is why it is advisable to use an LTS kernel if you prefer a more stable system and/or have an older one. But the decision is yours to make. Before you install an LTS kernel, check the Linux kernel version you are using. At this point, the LTS version is the default one.
What type of kernel does Linux use?
Linux is a monolithic kernel while OS X (XNU) and Windows 7 use hybrid kernels. Let’s take a quick tour of the three categories so we can go into more detail later.
How do I change kernels in Arch?
- Step 1: Install the kernel of your choice. You can use the pacman command to install the Linux kernel of your choice. .
- Step 2: Tweak the grub configuration file to add more kernel options. By default, Arch Linux uses the latest kernel version as the default. .
- Step 3: Re-generate the GRUB configuration file.
How much RAM do I need for Arch Linux?
Arch Linux should run on any x86_64-compatible machine with a minimum of 512 MiB RAM, though more memory is needed to boot the live system for installation. [1] A basic installation should take less than 2 GiB of disk space.
Is Arch Linux worth it?
Absolutely not. Arch is not, and has never been about choice, it’s about minimalism and simplicity. Arch is minimal, as in by default it doesn’t have a lot of stuff, but it’s not designed for choice, you can just uninstall stuff on a non minimal distro and get the same effect.
What is the latest kernel version for Arch Linux?
The latest version of Linux kernel as of the time of writing is 4.15.
What is the best Linux OS for programming?
- Manjaro.
- Fedora.
- Raspbian.
- CentOS.
- Arch Linux.
- Gentoo.
- Pop!_ OS.
- Kali Linux.
How long does Linux kernel compile take?
After any modifications in code every time it takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes for compiling and installing the whole kernel code to see the changes.
Is Linux a kernel or OS?
Linux, in its nature, is not an operating system; it’s a Kernel. The Kernel is part of the operating system – And the most crucial. For it to be an OS, it is supplied with GNU software and other additions giving us the name GNU/Linux. Linus Torvalds made Linux open source in 1992, one year after it’s creation.
What does kernel do in Linux?
The Linux® kernel is the main component of a Linux operating system (OS) and is the core interface between a computer’s hardware and its processes. It communicates between the 2, managing resources as efficiently as possible.
What exactly is a kernel?
A kernel is the central part of an operating system. It manages the operations of the computer and the hardware, most notably memory and CPU time. There are five types of kernels: A micro kernel, which only contains basic functionality; A monolithic kernel, which contains many device drivers.
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Different Types of Kernel for Arch Linux and How to Use Them
One of the reasons why people use Arch Linux is that it is a bleeding edge rolling release. You get most software and the Linux kernel before users of other distributions.
But this doesn’t mean that you have to always use the latest mainline kernel. There are several kernel options available, and I am going to show you switch kernels in Arch Linux.
Different types of kernels available for Arch Linux
First, let me tell you about different kinds of Linux kernels available to you as an Arch user.
Mainline kernel (package name: linux)
This is the latest stable Linux kernel. Most people use this kernel for the reason that it is the latest available kernel version.
LTS kernel (package name: linux-lts)
The linux-lts package gives you the latest long term support Linux kernel. There is no predefined life cycle for a LTS kernel but you can be assured to enjoy the same kernel version for a much longer period.
Kernel patches normally don’t break anything but a breakage is not impossible to happen. If your hardware isn’t the newest the market can offer, you can enjoy the bleeding edge software with increased stability by installing the slightly older LTS kernel.
Hardened kernel (package name: linux-hardened)
For the security concerned users, there is a hardened version of the latest stable kernel. Do note that several packages will not work when using this kernel.
Performance-tuned kernel (package name: linux-zen)
If you want to get the most out of your system, you can use the “Zen” kernel which is basically a fork from the latest kernel and provides tunes at the cost of throughput and power usage.
How to switch kernels on Arch Linux
Now that you are aware of various kernel choices, let’s see how to change kernel in Arch Linux.
- Install the Linux kernel of your choice
- Tweak the grub config file to add the newly installed kernel
Don’t worry, I am going to show you the steps in details.
Check the kernel version in arch Linux using this command:
If it shows only a number
To switch kernels on Arch, can be simply done by installing the kernel that you want to use and tweak the grub configuration file.
Step 1: Install the kernel of your choice
You can use the pacman command to install the Linux kernel of your choice. You just need to know the package name.
You may also install more than one type of Linux kernels at the same time in the system. You can choose which kernel to use from the grub menu.
For the latest stable kernel:
For the latest LTS kernel:
For latest stable kernel with hardened patches:
sudo pacman -S linux-hardened
Step 2: Tweak the grub configuration file to add more kernel options
By default, Arch Linux uses the latest kernel version as the default. Additional kernel versions are available from under the advanced options:
However, I prefer to do things a bit different and a bit better (in my opinion). Here’s what I do:
- Disable grub submenu so that all the available kernel versions are shown on the main screen (instead of under Advanced Options).
- Configure grub to recall the last kernel entry you booted and use it as the default entry to boot from the next time.
Sounds a lot better already, does it not?
To do this you need to edit the GRUB configuration file. All the configuration files in general are located at the /etc directory.
Open your terminal and edit the config file in your favorite terminal-based text editor. I am using Nano editor:
As you may notice I have changed the value that I mentioned but I have added another 2 lines so the final result should look like this:
GRUB_DISABLE_SUBMENU=y GRUB_DEFAULT=saved GRUB_SAVEDEFAULT=true
The first and optional line is used to disable the GRUB submenu. I find it easier when instantly I can see all my kernels on the GRUB screen without having to enter the advanced options submenu.
The second line is used to save the last kernel entry.
Lastly you need to ensure that GRUB will use as a default the last saved entry.
Save the configuration file and exit.
Step 3: Re-generate the GRUB configuration file
To make the changes effective you need to re-generate the configuration file. To do so, open the terminal and run the following command:
$ sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
If it looks familiar to you, you have used this command during the Arch Linux installation process.
Reboot your Linux system and select the kernel you want to use!
Conclusion
You don’t need to worry about updating the kernel in Arch Linux. If there are updates to your choice of kernel, it will be installed with the system updates. I guess you already know how to update Arch Linux system.
Switching kernels on Arch Linux is an easy to do process with several options tailored to your needs. I find the above method the safest and easiest as you don’t need to remove a kernel from your system. If you choose to run the latest kernel, it’s good to have installed the LTS kernel in case of a kernel panic.
I hope you liked this Arch Linux tip. Stay subscribed to It’s FOSS for more tips and tutorials.
Why and How to install the LTS kernel in Arch Linux
The LTS kernel in Arch Linux is often recommended installing if you want to make your Arch system more stable. But what is the kernel? What are the differences between the default Linux and the LTS kernels, and which one should you choose? Finally, how to install the LTS kernel in Arch Linux? All these questions are about to be answered.
What is the kernel?
The kernel is the core program of the system. It is responsible for managing memory, CPU and other hardware of the system. Many drivers are built-into the kernel. It also communicates with the installed applications.
Actually, Linux is the kernel. The desktop environment, applications and all the other stuff is just a superstructure above the kernel. So, using the word Linux is not very accurate, if you mean a distribution. For example, Android uses the Linux kernel but it is not called Linux. That is why many people say GNU/Linux when they mean Linux distributions. Linux is much simpler to say.
Why install the LTS kernel?
If you have not changed your kernel in Arch Linux, by default you have the latest stable kernel version.
The LTS (long-term support) version is advantageous if stability is your first priority. It doesn’t mean that the latest kernel, or the default kernel, is less stable, it just means that the LTS kernel won’t be updated as frequently. So, there is a smaller chance of some conflicts after you update your system. Besides, the LTS kernel doesn’t change much, so if it works fine on your system it is likely that it will keep working properly.
On the other hand, the latest kernel is updated frequently and there are constant changes to it, so there is a higher chance of breaking something after the update. The main version of the LTS kernel doesn’t change but it keeps receiving security fixes and it may also receive some feature backports.
Installing the latest kernel is good if you want to have the latest feature, and this is what many Arch users aim for. If you have the latest hardware, it is possible that the LTS kernel may not fully support it. So, you have to use the latest kernel OS.
How to install the LTS kernel in Arch Linux
To install and activate the LTS kernel in Arch Linux, follow these steps:
- Check your what kind of kernel you have: uname -r
sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
To get this GRUB menu, you may need to press SHIFT key or ESC key just when the boot is starting. Boot with the LTS kernel from the Advanced options.
sudo pacman -R linux sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
After these steps, you will have only the LTS kernel in your system. If you do not remove the default kernel, Arch Linux will use the default kernel after the next reboot. If you use the latest kernel, you can install the LTS kernel as a fallback kernel. In case that something happens to your latest kernel, you can boot with the LTS kernel.
Benefits of the LTS Kernel
Personally for me, the LTS kernel has several advantages.
It works better with VirtualBox. I had some problems with the latest kernel and VirtualBox because the kernel updates were more frequent than the updates for VirtualBox. Once VirtualBox just stopped working and to fix it, I needed to switch to an older kernel.
It’s better for a multi-boot system. I also like the infrequent updates of the LTS kernel. I multi-boot my Arch Linux with several other Linux OSes and I need to update my GRUB manually every kernel update. As the LTS kernel is not updated as frequently as the latest kernel, I don’t have to update my GRUB often with the LTS kernel.
You may also like these tips and tricks after installing Arch Linux. Thanks for reading.
Average Linux UserFollow I am the founder of the Average Linux User project, which is a hobby I work on at night. During the day I am a scientist who uses computers to analyze genetic data.