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Diffstat (limited to 'doc')
-rw-r--r-- | doc/builders/packages/index.xml | 2 | ||||
-rw-r--r-- | doc/builders/packages/linux.section.md | 41 | ||||
-rw-r--r-- | doc/builders/packages/linux.xml | 85 |
3 files changed, 42 insertions, 86 deletions
diff --git a/doc/builders/packages/index.xml b/doc/builders/packages/index.xml index 44e89169629d..baf9b8db01be 100644 --- a/doc/builders/packages/index.xml +++ b/doc/builders/packages/index.xml @@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ <xi:include href="emacs.section.xml" /> <xi:include href="ibus.xml" /> <xi:include href="kakoune.section.xml" /> - <xi:include href="linux.xml" /> + <xi:include href="linux.section.xml" /> <xi:include href="locales.xml" /> <xi:include href="nginx.section.xml" /> <xi:include href="opengl.section.xml" /> diff --git a/doc/builders/packages/linux.section.md b/doc/builders/packages/linux.section.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..1b8d6eda749d --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/builders/packages/linux.section.md @@ -0,0 +1,41 @@ +# Linux kernel {#sec-linux-kernel} + +The Nix expressions to build the Linux kernel are in [`pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel`](https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/master/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel). + +The function that builds the kernel has an argument `kernelPatches` which should be a list of `{name, patch, extraConfig}` attribute sets, where `name` is the name of the patch (which is included in the kernel’s `meta.description` attribute), `patch` is the patch itself (possibly compressed), and `extraConfig` (optional) is a string specifying extra options to be concatenated to the kernel configuration file (`.config`). + +The kernel derivation exports an attribute `features` specifying whether optional functionality is or isn’t enabled. This is used in NixOS to implement kernel-specific behaviour. For instance, if the kernel has the `iwlwifi` feature (i.e. has built-in support for Intel wireless chipsets), then NixOS doesn’t have to build the external `iwlwifi` package: + +```nix +modulesTree = [kernel] + ++ pkgs.lib.optional (!kernel.features ? iwlwifi) kernelPackages.iwlwifi + ++ ...; +``` + +How to add a new (major) version of the Linux kernel to Nixpkgs: + +1. Copy the old Nix expression (e.g. `linux-2.6.21.nix`) to the new one (e.g. `linux-2.6.22.nix`) and update it. + +2. Add the new kernel to `all-packages.nix` (e.g., create an attribute `kernel_2_6_22`). + +3. Now we’re going to update the kernel configuration. First unpack the kernel. Then for each supported platform (`i686`, `x86_64`, `uml`) do the following: + + 1. Make an copy from the old config (e.g. `config-2.6.21-i686-smp`) to the new one (e.g. `config-2.6.22-i686-smp`). + + 2. Copy the config file for this platform (e.g. `config-2.6.22-i686-smp`) to `.config` in the kernel source tree. + + 3. Run `make oldconfig ARCH={i386,x86_64,um}` and answer all questions. (For the uml configuration, also add `SHELL=bash`.) Make sure to keep the configuration consistent between platforms (i.e. don’t enable some feature on `i686` and disable it on `x86_64`). + + 4. If needed you can also run `make menuconfig`: + + ```ShellSession + $ nix-env -i ncurses + $ export NIX_CFLAGS_LINK=-lncurses + $ make menuconfig ARCH=arch + ``` + + 5. Copy `.config` over the new config file (e.g. `config-2.6.22-i686-smp`). + +4. Test building the kernel: `nix-build -A kernel_2_6_22`. If it compiles, ship it! For extra credit, try booting NixOS with it. + +5. It may be that the new kernel requires updating the external kernel modules and kernel-dependent packages listed in the `linuxPackagesFor` function in `all-packages.nix` (such as the NVIDIA drivers, AUFS, etc.). If the updated packages aren’t backwards compatible with older kernels, you may need to keep the older versions around. diff --git a/doc/builders/packages/linux.xml b/doc/builders/packages/linux.xml deleted file mode 100644 index 72d0e21493b3..000000000000 --- a/doc/builders/packages/linux.xml +++ /dev/null @@ -1,85 +0,0 @@ -<section xmlns="http://docbook.org/ns/docbook" - xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" - xml:id="sec-linux-kernel"> - <title>Linux kernel</title> - - <para> - The Nix expressions to build the Linux kernel are in <link -xlink:href="https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/master/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel"><filename>pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel</filename></link>. - </para> - - <para> - The function that builds the kernel has an argument <varname>kernelPatches</varname> which should be a list of <literal>{name, patch, extraConfig}</literal> attribute sets, where <varname>name</varname> is the name of the patch (which is included in the kernel’s <varname>meta.description</varname> attribute), <varname>patch</varname> is the patch itself (possibly compressed), and <varname>extraConfig</varname> (optional) is a string specifying extra options to be concatenated to the kernel configuration file (<filename>.config</filename>). - </para> - - <para> - The kernel derivation exports an attribute <varname>features</varname> specifying whether optional functionality is or isn’t enabled. This is used in NixOS to implement kernel-specific behaviour. For instance, if the kernel has the <varname>iwlwifi</varname> feature (i.e. has built-in support for Intel wireless chipsets), then NixOS doesn’t have to build the external <varname>iwlwifi</varname> package: -<programlisting> -modulesTree = [kernel] - ++ pkgs.lib.optional (!kernel.features ? iwlwifi) kernelPackages.iwlwifi - ++ ...; -</programlisting> - </para> - - <para> - How to add a new (major) version of the Linux kernel to Nixpkgs: - <orderedlist> - <listitem> - <para> - Copy the old Nix expression (e.g. <filename>linux-2.6.21.nix</filename>) to the new one (e.g. <filename>linux-2.6.22.nix</filename>) and update it. - </para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para> - Add the new kernel to <filename>all-packages.nix</filename> (e.g., create an attribute <varname>kernel_2_6_22</varname>). - </para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para> - Now we’re going to update the kernel configuration. First unpack the kernel. Then for each supported platform (<literal>i686</literal>, <literal>x86_64</literal>, <literal>uml</literal>) do the following: - <orderedlist> - <listitem> - <para> - Make an copy from the old config (e.g. <filename>config-2.6.21-i686-smp</filename>) to the new one (e.g. <filename>config-2.6.22-i686-smp</filename>). - </para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para> - Copy the config file for this platform (e.g. <filename>config-2.6.22-i686-smp</filename>) to <filename>.config</filename> in the kernel source tree. - </para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para> - Run <literal>make oldconfig ARCH=<replaceable>{i386,x86_64,um}</replaceable></literal> and answer all questions. (For the uml configuration, also add <literal>SHELL=bash</literal>.) Make sure to keep the configuration consistent between platforms (i.e. don’t enable some feature on <literal>i686</literal> and disable it on <literal>x86_64</literal>). - </para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para> - If needed you can also run <literal>make menuconfig</literal>: -<screen> -<prompt>$ </prompt>nix-env -i ncurses -<prompt>$ </prompt>export NIX_CFLAGS_LINK=-lncurses -<prompt>$ </prompt>make menuconfig ARCH=<replaceable>arch</replaceable></screen> - </para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para> - Copy <filename>.config</filename> over the new config file (e.g. <filename>config-2.6.22-i686-smp</filename>). - </para> - </listitem> - </orderedlist> - </para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para> - Test building the kernel: <literal>nix-build -A kernel_2_6_22</literal>. If it compiles, ship it! For extra credit, try booting NixOS with it. - </para> - </listitem> - <listitem> - <para> - It may be that the new kernel requires updating the external kernel modules and kernel-dependent packages listed in the <varname>linuxPackagesFor</varname> function in <filename>all-packages.nix</filename> (such as the NVIDIA drivers, AUFS, etc.). If the updated packages aren’t backwards compatible with older kernels, you may need to keep the older versions around. - </para> - </listitem> - </orderedlist> - </para> -</section> |