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{{multi language banner|[https://wiki.mageia.org/de/Kernel-Arten Deutsch] ; [[Kernel_flavours|English]] ;}}
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[[Category:Documentation]]
  
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{{multi language banner|[[Kernel-Arten-de|Deutsch]] ; [[Kernel_flavours|English]] ; [[Les types de noyaux-fr|français]]}}
  
{{draft}}
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{{introduction|The kernel is the main code that is used by the computer. It is the interface between the applications and the hardware like the memory, the CPU or storage devices. It is loaded at start before any application.<br />
The kernel is the main code that is used by the computer. It is the interface between the applications and the hardware like the memory, the CPU or storage devices. It is loaded at start before any application.
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Wikipedia says :<br />
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{{format text|your text="In computing, the kernel is a computer program that manages input/output requests from software, and translates them into data processing instructions for the central processing unit and other electronic components of a computer. The kernel is a fundamental part of a modern computer's operating system".|background=#2397D420}}
  
Wikipedia says :
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The first [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux Linux] kernel was written by Linus Torvalds in the beginning of the 90's. Today it is developed by hundreds of developers across the world.
{{Quote|In computing, the kernel is a computer program that manages input/output requests from software, and translates them into data processing instructions for the central processing unit and other electronic components of a computer. The kernel is a fundamental part of a modern computer's operating system.}}
 
  
The first kernel was written by Linus Torvalds at 90's begin. It is yet worked by hundreds developers across the world.
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Mageia is provided with different kernels that can be chosen according to your hardware or your preferences. At installation, the installer chooses one according to which hardware it finds. After the installation, you can choose and install a different kernel according to your taste.}}
  
Mageia is provided with different kernels according to your hardware or your preferences. At installation, the installer choose one according to which hardware it founds. After the installation, you choose and install a different kernel according to your taste.
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== About your kernel ==
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If you want to know which kernel your computer is using, you can check with a console to get something like:
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{{output|uname -a}}Linux localhost 5.15.23-desktop-1.mga8 #1 SMP Fri Feb 11 09:56:46 UTC 2022 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux{{stop}}
  
== About your kernel ==
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The indication 5.15.23 matches to the kernel release, and desktop to the flavour as explained below.
If you want to know which kernel you  computer is using, launch "Mageia Welcome" (Menu->Tools), and you can check:
 
  
Or with a console:
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To know which kernel packages are installed, you can use in console:
{{console|uname -a}}
 
You get something like:
 
  
Linux localhost 3.12.13-desktop-2.mga4 #1 SMP Sun Feb 23 00:16:54 UTC 2014 i686 i686 i686 GNU/Linux
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{{command|rpm -qa{{!}}grep ^kernel}}
  
The indication 3.12.13 matches to the kernel release, and desktop to the flavour as explained bottom.
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which lists all packages starting with "kernel". The -devel package contains tools for building modules according to the kernel version. Such modules are graphical drivers or virtualization tools.
  
To know which kernels are installed, you can use in console:
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The {kernel*, kernel*-devel*, virtualbox-kernel} -latest packages are needed in order to automatically have updated kernel, kernel*-devel and virtualbox-kernel updates when available.
{{console|<nowiki>rpm -qa | grep ^kernel</nowiki>}}
 
which lists all packages starting with "kernel". the -devel package contains tools for building modules according to the kernel version. Such modules are graphical drivers or virtualization tools.
 
  
When more than one kernel is installed, you can choose which one to boot on with the bootloader interface, which propose a line for each installed kernel. When a kernel is updated, the bootloader use the new version by default. If this one can not boot the box, then you can try an older which is on another line.
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When more than one kernel is installed, you can select which one to boot on with the bootloader interface ({{menu|Mageia Control Center -> Boot -> Set-up boot system}}) , which proposes a line for each installed kernel. When a kernel is updated, the bootloader uses the new version by default. If this one can not boot the box, then you can try an older one which is on another line.
  
 
As you checked that the new version is fine, you can uninstall the previous version.
 
As you checked that the new version is fine, you can uninstall the previous version.
  
 
== Default kernels ==
 
== Default kernels ==
Three flavours are used at installation. Each flavour is available for 32 bits (i586) or 64 bits (x86_64) architectures.
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Three flavours are used at installation and are provided for 32 bits (i586, i686) or 64 bits (x86_64) architectures.
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=== kernel-desktop ===
 
=== kernel-desktop ===
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This kernel is issued from a stable branch which receives patches from Mageia team.
 
This kernel is issued from a stable branch which receives patches from Mageia team.
  
Optimised for i686, multi-core (SMP).
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The 32 bits version is optimised for i686, multicore (SMP).
  
 
This kernel is the default one, except if:
 
This kernel is the default one, except if:
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* you have a server hardware.
 
* you have a server hardware.
  
===kernel-server===
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=== kernel-server ===
  
Optimized for i686, multi-core (SMP) and able to address up to 64 Gb memory. The Mageia installer selects it if your hardware has more than 3.8 Gb memory and you have a 32 bits architecture, or if it finds that your hardware is a server. Server hardware means if dmidecode reports special kinds of chassis only reported on most rackmounted servers.  
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The 32 bits version is optimized for i686, multi-core (SMP) and is able to address up to 64 Gb memory. The Mageia installer selects it if your hardware has more than 3.8 Gb memory and you have a 32 bits architecture, or if it finds that your hardware is a server. Server hardware means if dmidecode reports special kinds of chassis only reported on most rackmounted servers.  
  
 
This kernel is proposed with the same version as kernel-desktop
 
This kernel is proposed with the same version as kernel-desktop
  
===kernel-desktop586===
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=== kernel-desktop586 ===
  
 
This kernel is for processors with a unique core like pentium I (i586 architecture) and is able to address till 4 Gb memory.
 
This kernel is for processors with a unique core like pentium I (i586 architecture) and is able to address till 4 Gb memory.
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== Other kernels ==
 
== Other kernels ==
=== Thomas Backlund's kernels "tmb"===
 
 
The above flavours are also available as tmb version, with a tmb-laptop in addition. Thus, we have:
 
 
* tmb-desktop
 
* tmb-desktop586 (no longer proposed since Mageia 5)
 
* tmb-server (no longer proposed since Mageia 5)
 
* tmb-laptop (no longer proposed since Mageia 5)
 
The -tmb kernels are little more "experimental" and have in addition to the above kernels:
 
* Con Kolivas -ck patchset including BFS cpu/process scheduler
 
* BFQ block scheduler
 
* TuxOnIce suspend/resume support enabled in -laptop flavour
 
* Reiser4 support
 
* ...
 
 
===kernel-linus===
 
 
The linus version is a vanilla version of the linux kernel, without any of our patches (exceptionally there can be a patch for a critical bug)/
 
 
The release follows the uptodate "release candidates" from kernel.org and can provide support for recent features if not available in standard kernels.
 
===kernel-joeghi===
 
Since Mageia 6, we have this flavour proposed by Guiseppe Joeghi.
 
This is an experimental kernel for Mageia GNU/Linux with *low latency*features.
 
This kernel tries to
 
incorporate some of external patchsets available for building Linux kernels with some
 
kind of "real-time" or "low-latency" features.
 
 
Note this kernel differs from the current Mageia kernel-tmb's kernel
 
by the fact that kernel-joeghi uses the Mageia "kernel-desktop" as
 
starting point, then it tries to add further patchsets, some of which
 
were not included in kernel-tmb. The optimum goal achievement would be
 
to derive the SPEC file (as well the archive set) for this kernel almost
 
"automatically" from the main Mageia (desktop) kernel by using some
 
"magic" script. Note also that this kernel is not intended to be a
 
replacement for kernel-tmb.
 
 
More can be found [http://svnweb.mageia.org/packages/cauldron/kernel-joeghi/current/SOURCES/README.kernel-joeghi.md?view=markup in the README]
 
 
===kernel-rt===
 
 
{{Note| This flavour is no longer proposed since Mageia 5}}
 
Kernel-rt - rt stands for realtime - is a flavour which adds rt patches which were initially written by Ingo Molnar and a [https://rt.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/Main_Page specialised group]. It uses a standard kernel with only the rt patch. Sometimes some additional hw support and CVE fixes gets added.
 
 
The goal of these patches is to improve latency, and it is especially useful with applications such as digital audio workstations. It allows to lower the number of samples per periods and the number of periods per buffer in jack. With the same settings on a regular kernel you would get xruns all the time but with with the rt kernel it's usable. To get jack working without crackles with a regular kernel you need to have settings so high that it's like you're using a slapback delay all the time. It also has other use cases where realtime is desirable.
 
 
===kernel-vserver===
 
{{Note| This flavour is no longer proposed since Mageia 5}}
 
  
This is a [http://linux-vserver.org/Welcome_to_Linux-VServer.org virualization platform] kernel.
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=== kernel-linus ===
  
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The linus version is a vanilla version of the linux kernel, without any of our patches (exceptionally there can be a patch for a critical bug).
  
{{quote|Linux-VServer provides virtualization for GNU/Linux systems. This is accomplished by kernel level isolation. It allows to run multiple virtual units at once. Those units are sufficiently isolated to guarantee the required security, but utilize available resources efficiently, as they run on the same kernel.}}
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The release follows the up-to-date "release candidates" from kernel.org and can provide support for recent features if not available in standard kernels.

Latest revision as of 16:31, 20 October 2023


Drakconf multiflag.png
Other languages
Deutsch ; English ; français
Synopsis:
The kernel is the main code that is used by the computer. It is the interface between the applications and the hardware like the memory, the CPU or storage devices. It is loaded at start before any application.

Wikipedia says :
"In computing, the kernel is a computer program that manages input/output requests from software, and translates them into data processing instructions for the central processing unit and other electronic components of a computer. The kernel is a fundamental part of a modern computer's operating system".

The first Linux kernel was written by Linus Torvalds in the beginning of the 90's. Today it is developed by hundreds of developers across the world.

Mageia is provided with different kernels that can be chosen according to your hardware or your preferences. At installation, the installer chooses one according to which hardware it finds. After the installation, you can choose and install a different kernel according to your taste.

About your kernel

If you want to know which kernel your computer is using, you can check with a console to get something like:

$ uname -a
Linux localhost 5.15.23-desktop-1.mga8 #1 SMP Fri Feb 11 09:56:46 UTC 2022 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

The indication 5.15.23 matches to the kernel release, and desktop to the flavour as explained below.

To know which kernel packages are installed, you can use in console:

$ rpm -qa|grep ^kernel

which lists all packages starting with "kernel". The -devel package contains tools for building modules according to the kernel version. Such modules are graphical drivers or virtualization tools.

The {kernel*, kernel*-devel*, virtualbox-kernel} -latest packages are needed in order to automatically have updated kernel, kernel*-devel and virtualbox-kernel updates when available.

When more than one kernel is installed, you can select which one to boot on with the bootloader interface (Mageia Control Center -> Boot -> Set-up boot system) , which proposes a line for each installed kernel. When a kernel is updated, the bootloader uses the new version by default. If this one can not boot the box, then you can try an older one which is on another line.

As you checked that the new version is fine, you can uninstall the previous version.

Default kernels

Three flavours are used at installation and are provided for 32 bits (i586, i686) or 64 bits (x86_64) architectures.

kernel-desktop

This kernel is issued from a stable branch which receives patches from Mageia team.

The 32 bits version is optimised for i686, multicore (SMP).

This kernel is the default one, except if:

  • your hardware has more than 3.8 Gb and you chose a 32 bits architecture,
  • you have a server hardware.

kernel-server

The 32 bits version is optimized for i686, multi-core (SMP) and is able to address up to 64 Gb memory. The Mageia installer selects it if your hardware has more than 3.8 Gb memory and you have a 32 bits architecture, or if it finds that your hardware is a server. Server hardware means if dmidecode reports special kinds of chassis only reported on most rackmounted servers.

This kernel is proposed with the same version as kernel-desktop

kernel-desktop586

This kernel is for processors with a unique core like pentium I (i586 architecture) and is able to address till 4 Gb memory.

This kernel is proposed with the same version as kernel-desktop

Other kernels

kernel-linus

The linus version is a vanilla version of the linux kernel, without any of our patches (exceptionally there can be a patch for a critical bug).

The release follows the up-to-date "release candidates" from kernel.org and can provide support for recent features if not available in standard kernels.