updating the jxself gnu linux libre kernel

[Member calciumsodium]

Recently @anticapitalista published updated antix linux kernels that contain patches to the recently discovered “dirty cred” attack.

So I wanted to update my antiX systems that contain my linux libre kernels.

Several of my antiX systems uses the jxself gnu linux libre kernel.
Previously it had the 4.9.324-gnu1 kernel.

But I wanted to update to the latest 5.10 linux libre kernel in anticipation of the end of life of the 4.9 kernel by the end of this year, or so they say. I also wanted to test this 5.10 linux libre kernel and compare that with the already extensively tested 4.9.324-gnu1 kernel.

To install and update was simply, after sudo apt update:
sudo apt install linux-libre-5.10

That single command did the following:
1. Installed the latest 5.10 linux libre gnu kernel: 5.10.140-gnu1
2. Updated the 4.9 linux libre gnu kernel to: 4.9.326-gnu1

I am impressed with the simplicity and ease of updating jxself gnu linux libre kernel! One command in terminal.

To remove the old 4.9.324 gnu kernel, in terminal:
sudo apt purge linux-image-4.9.324-gnu1 linux-firmware-image-4.9.324-gnu1
There are no headers with these kernels.

Eventually when I want to remove the latest 4.9 kernel and keep the 5.10 kernel, I will use the command:
sudo apt purge linux-image-4.9.326-gnu1 linux-firmware-image-4.9.326-gnu1 linux-libre-4.9

In summary, I wanted to point out the ease and simplicity of updating the jxself gnu linux libre kernel.

$ inxi -b
System:    Host: antix Kernel: 5.10.140-gnu1 i686 bits: 32 Desktop: IceWM 2.9.6 
           Distro: antiX-21_386-base Grup Yorum 31 October 2021 

• This topic was modified 8 months, 1 week ago by calciumsodium.

[Moderator Brian Masinick]

Helpful

Up

0

::

Which repository/repositories do you have enabled in order to locate and install libre kernels?
I don’t even see ANY references to libre kernels at all, much less the specific metapackage you are referring to.
When I search my system, the primary “libre” packages I see are libreoffice; other packages associated in any way with the term libre don’t have even a single kernel mentioned or referenced.

I’ve not been using Libre kernels, there’s probably a repo that I’ve disabled or failed to include.
“Refresh” my “memory leak” please!

--
Brian Masinick

[Member calciumsodium]

Helpful

Up

0

::

To enable the jxself gnu repository and then install/update that linux libre kernel, there is a little investment in the front end. This is just a standard way to set up a new repository from scratch:

1. Get the key
wget https://jxself.org/gpg.asc

2. Install the key
sudo gpg --no-default-keyring --keyring /usr/share/keyrings/freesh-archive-keyring.gpg --import gpg.asc

3. Remove the temporary key copy:
rm gpg.asc

4. Edit or create the file /etc/apt/sources.list.d/freesh.sources with the following:

X-Repolib-Name: GNU Linux-libre Freesh Repository
Enabled: yes
Types: deb
URIs: mirror://linux-libre.fsfla.org/pub/linux-libre/freesh/mirrors.txt
Suites: freesh
Components: main
Signed-By: /usr/share/keyrings/freesh-archive-keyring.gpg

This URI will have your package manager will select an appropriate mirror. You can also access the mirrors.txt file directly and instead put the the address of a specific mirror in place of mirror:// but please use the automatic method shown above if possible.

5. Edit or create the file /etc/apt/preferences.d/freesh.pref with the following:

Package: *
Pin: release n=freesh
Pin-Priority: 100

6. Now you will now be able to update your package manager and install Linux-libre:
sudo apt update

• This reply was modified 8 months, 1 week ago by calciumsodium.

[Member andyprough]

Helpful

Up

0

::

Hi calciumsodium,

Thanks for posting the step by step procedure.

jxself has posted comments and instructions on the new updates here –
https://trisquel.info/en/forum/package-linux-libre-being-kept-back

I’ll post links to all this in the antiX-libre respin threads as well.

[Moderator Brian Masinick]

Helpful

Up

0

::

andyprough wrote:

Hi calciumsodium,

Thanks for posting the step by step procedure.

jxself has posted comments and instructions on the new updates here –
https://trisquel.info/en/forum/package-linux-libre-being-kept-back

I’ll post links to all this in the antiX-libre respin threads as well.

Thanks calciumsodium!
This looks worthwhile; I’ll check it out.

--
Brian Masinick

[Member calciumsodium]

Helpful

Up

0

::

A caveat about the jxself gnu linux kernel: It is the wifi. What works best from my experience is the wifi that uses the ath9k driver. It works fantastic with that driver. There are others. Some realtek may work. @christophe discovered another wifi driver that works. I can’t seem to think of the name of that one on the top of my head. In terms of wifi, the jxself gnu linux kernel is more particular than the antiX kernel. You just have to give it a try. If it works, great. If not, you can always go back to the antiX kernel.

An alternative to the jxself gnu linux kernel is the trisquel linux kernel. It is more forgiving in terms of wifi in my experience.

https://www.antixforum.com/forums/topic/installing-the-linux-libre-x64-kernel/

[Member oops]

Helpful

Up

0

::

Interesting info. to have a latest kernel (image and header if needed).

https://www.fsfla.org/ikiwiki/selibre/linux-libre/freesh.en.html
GNU Linux-libre is a project to maintain and publish 100% Free versions of Linux, removing the offending portions.

https://linux-libre.fsfla.org/pub/linux-libre/freesh/pool/main/l/linux-libre/

linux-image-5.19.6-gnu_5.19.6-gnu-1.0_amd64.deb 2022-09-01 13:07 77M
linux-image-5.19.6-gnu.nonpae_5.19.6-gnu-1.0_i386.deb 2022-09-01 13:05 65M
linux-image-5.19.6-gnu_5.19.6-gnu-1.0_i386.deb 2022-09-01 13:05 65M
…

[Author]

Posts