Updating the kernel in Debian to upstream kernel

Hello everybody! I’ve been using my VF2 headlessly (without graphics) with the supplied Debian installation. Some time ago I updated the userland to Debian sid. Works like a charm. I boot from a SD card, but my main fs is on nvme.

I would prefer to have a stock/upstream kernel too, as Linux 6.11 supposedly has most relevant drivers already upstreamed (at least the ones I need for running the RV headlessly).

Can anybody describe the best way to get my Debian installation to boot a newly compiled kernel and boot it? Will I need a serial USB adapter for this?

I tried “u-boot-update” without any changes to the configuration (just to check rebuilding the running configuration worked), but that stopped my VF2 from booting, I had to reflash my SD card, and it worked again.

TIA
/ralph

1 Like

hi,

Updating the kernel in Debian to upstream kernel

While you were waiting, Try upgrading VisionFive 2 Debian 202409 Released

user@starfive:~$ sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

#deb https://snapshot.debian.org/archive/debian-ports/20230612T050707Z unstable main

replace with:

deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian sid main contrib non-free non-free-firmware

user@starfive:~$ sudo apt update

user@starfive:~$ sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

Please note: After the upgrade, there is no GPU driver available. Do not use gnome, Try using xfce4. :slightly_smiling_face:

Thank you! I already did most of this (except for the apt pin, I am risky and just tracking unstable), but: All the things you describe won’t install the upstream kernel, will they?

I’ve basically done this and still have

ralph@rv:~$ uname -a
Linux rv 6.6.20-starfive #41SF SMP Fri Sep 20 17:48:26 CST 2024 riscv64 GNU/Linux

But I want a vanilla/upstream Linux 6.11 kernel.

1 Like

https://rvspace.org/en/project/JH7110_Upstream_Plan

There is missing some drivers in upstream.

You can build the kernel in debian with native compiler. Like a x86 native build. there have a lot of doc on internet .
But upstream kernel is not include VF2’s default config. you have to reconfigure the kernel yourself.

When got the vmlinux & kernel mods . You can add a new boot title in /boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf . Do not need u-boot-update .

He/Her is talking about kernel .

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