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Friday, July 15, 2011

Custom kernel 2.6.39.3 ubuntu amd64 packages optimized for i3, i5 and i7


Requirements

This package is created in Ubuntu 11.04 and should install fine in all versions of Ubuntu Linux 11.04 (as well 10.10) and Linux Mint 11 (as well Mint 10) (should as well in debian squeeze but not sure about dkms)

The build is for 64bit i3, i5 and i7 processors

The following are the configuration settings

  1. Processor is selected as CORE2
  2. Makefile and Makefile_32 modified to reflect march settings and mtune settings to corei7
  3. Configuration of oneiric kernel is taken as base, http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v2.6.39.3-oneiric/
  4. Kernel Timer Frequency is 100 HZ as oneiric kernel config defaulted to this frequency

How to install

To install

sudo dpkg -i linux-image-2.6.39.3-corei7swiftr_14.00_amd64.deb linux-headers-2.6.39.3-corei7swiftr_14.00_amd64.deb

followed by (these steps update-initramfs and update-grub are not required for mint10 or maverick, these were required when using Ubuntu Lucid)

sudo update-initramfs -c -k 2.6.39.3-corei7swiftr

and final step of

sudo update-grub

before rebooting and reboot into the newly installed kernel from grub

How to build yourself

follow my blog on how to build kernel in ten steps at


Kernel Source

I downloaded the kernel source tarball from kernel.org

Version: 2.6.39.3


MD5SUMS


f80adc703e7b63bbd9ff6c2f23dc5775  CONFIG-ONEIRIC-I7
29fd92b6e3410a51c561a81ae7527c03  linux-headers-2.6.39.3-corei7swiftr_14.00_amd64.deb
eda36d097f05fed41e6a566627761eca  linux-image-2.6.39.3-corei7swiftr_14.00_amd64.deb
272274b3b6f9c748b62a390792f2930b  Readme.odt
2b3932a8853b6b39b7be843df3f83cac  Readme.pdf


SHA256SUMS


2416708673ed3e420b5552b7badeee9d0759ef82783e18311555ccd6ed7fce9b  CONFIG-ONEIRIC-I7
1ff5867ac3a58c3b28c5d369e2b4bc82ff226c49b6d5c41f24b04ff86f106d92  linux-headers-2.6.39.3-corei7swiftr_14.00_amd64.deb
01dad9baec80c96a540443547c7367c4ed6c3ff1ac343c6c62a9d9065e27072d  linux-image-2.6.39.3-corei7swiftr_14.00_amd64.deb
df59162b9a954e8c3a27ffb1443a3f2e96848890c6a565a7a0e0e8d213f6e398  Readme.odt
c643afa8ef84090c45a876b4e2ed6a1948fa4901d1e1e1cf3070913d8a8a82df  Readme.pdf


Dropbox Download Links
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/22900905/MyKernelBuilds/2.6.39.3-corei7swift/CONFIG-ONEIRIC-I7
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/22900905/MyKernelBuilds/2.6.39.3-corei7swift/linux-headers-2.6.39.3-corei7swiftr_14.00_amd64.deb
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/22900905/MyKernelBuilds/2.6.39.3-corei7swift/linux-image-2.6.39.3-corei7swiftr_14.00_amd64.deb
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/22900905/MyKernelBuilds/2.6.39.3-corei7swift/Readme.odt
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/22900905/MyKernelBuilds/2.6.39.3-corei7swift/Readme.pdf
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/22900905/MyKernelBuilds/2.6.39.3-corei7swift/MD5SUMS
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/22900905/MyKernelBuilds/2.6.39.3-corei7swift/SHA256SUMS

at 11:02 AM
Posted by Sankaran
Labels:

14 comments:

  1. AnonymousJuly 29, 2011 at 1:22 AM

    Hi,

    Thank you for this compiled kernel. I am running it on maximus iv extreme;i7-k -and it is works fine.
    I have couple of questions - sorry - I am newbee within these:

    I have tried to install ubuntu 11.04 on brfts file system and when I used this kernel - it is going to busybox and freeze. I have read somewhere that kernel has to be compiled with GPT support to run with (I have read as well that ubuntu 11.04 has big bug with GPT) - is this kernel compiled with GPT support?

    Second question: I am using virtualbox 4.1 - it is working fine. But in some special occasions I am using vmware (when virtualbox does not know) - vmware is always trying to make some module updates into kernel - but within this kernel it failed. I have found this in log (This ubuntu is running on ext4 file system):

    Your GCC version: 4.6
    Jul 28 20:32:46.762: app-140242724968224| Trying to find a suitable PBM set for kernel 2.6.39.3-corei7swiftr.
    Jul 28 20:32:46.763: app-140242724968224| Trying to find a suitable PBM set for kernel 2.6.39.3-corei7swiftr.
    Jul 28 20:32:46.764: app-140242724968224| Trying to find a suitable PBM set for kernel 2.6.39.3-corei7swiftr.
    Jul 28 20:32:46.765: app-140242724968224| Trying to find a suitable PBM set for kernel 2.6.39.3-corei7swiftr.
    Jul 28 20:32:46.766: app-140242724968224| Trying to find a suitable PBM set for kernel 2.6.39.3-corei7swiftr.
    Jul 28 20:32:47.477: app-140242724968224| Trying to find a suitable PBM set for kernel 2.6.39.3-corei7swiftr.
    Jul 28 20:32:47.487: app-140242724968224| Building module vmmon.
    Jul 28 20:32:47.499: app-140242724968224| Extracting the sources of the vmmon module.
    Jul 28 20:32:47.538: app-140242724968224| Building module with command: /usr/bin/make -C /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmmon-only auto-build SUPPORT_SMP=1 HEADER_DIR=/lib/modules/2.6.39.3-corei7swiftr/build/include CC=/usr/bin/gcc GREP=/usr/bin/make IS_GCC_3=no VMCCVER=4.6.2
    Jul 28 20:32:49.517: app-140242724968224| Failed to compile module vmmon!

    I would much appreciate any clue how to investigate, what is wrong?

    Thanks for any kind of help.
    Martin

    ReplyDelete
  2. SankaranJuly 29, 2011 at 2:16 AM

    Kernel needs to be patched with vmware patches to get this running.

    See this link, http://communities.vmware.com/message/1401588#1401588 where they discuss similar thing but for 2.6.32

    ReplyDelete
  3. SankaranJuly 29, 2011 at 2:17 AM

    Also see this archlinux thread https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=815476

    ReplyDelete
  4. SankaranJuly 29, 2011 at 2:20 AM

    Yeah I too face problems with btrfs partitions, I could not boot my 3 kernel and it is getting stuck. Will update you once I finished exploring, till then I am stuck with default ubuntu kernel or ext4

    ReplyDelete
  5. SankaranJuly 29, 2011 at 2:22 AM

    Or the next easy thing I can do is get the kernel source from ubuntu git servers and build like how ubuntu does and check if that works

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousAugust 1, 2011 at 5:10 PM

    Hi,

    Thanks for hints. I have checked them and:

    --vmware:
    I had a look briefly on vmware path - it is for 7.1.1 version and kernel 2.3.35 like you mentioned. Because I have vmware 7.1.4 build 385536 I believe I can't use this patch. Tell me if I am wrong. Result from
    vmware-modconfig --console --install-all:

    Stopping VMware services:
    VMware USB Arbitrator done
    VM communication interface socket family done
    Virtual machine communication interface done
    Virtual machine monitor done
    Blocking file system done
    Using 2.6.x kernel build system.
    make: Entering directory `/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmmon-only'
    make -C /lib/modules/2.6.39.3-corei7swiftr/build/include/.. SUBDIRS=$PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. \
    MODULEBUILDDIR= modules
    make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.39.3-corei7swiftr'
    CC [M] /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmmon-only/linux/driver.o
    /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:783:59: error: ‘SPIN_LOCK_UNLOCKED’ undeclared here (not in a function)
    make[2]: *** [/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmmon-only/linux/driver.o] Error 1
    make[1]: *** [_module_/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmmon-only] Error 2
    make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.39.3-corei7swiftr'
    make: *** [vmmon.ko] Error 2
    make: Leaving directory `/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmmon-only'
    Unable to install vmmon

    --------
    --second URL for vmware seems to me for very old vmware version.

    -------
    According to this http://communities.vmware.com/thread/320578 -- I have a suspicious that something is probably missing in this compilation. Please, let me know, what do you think?

    -----
    The idea to compile kernel from ubuntu source - I am going to try it as well - (but I am afraid that result will be kernel panic - As I already had ;-).



    ------------------------------------------------------
    Unfortunately, I am in big problems with catalyst 11.6 and 11.7:
    kernel 2.6.39.3 and catalyst 11.6 with patch works.
    kernel 2.6.39.3 and catalyst 11.7 does not work.
    kernel 3.0 with catalyst 11.6 or 11.7 does not work.

    Unfortunately I cannot use the open source graphic driver - The graphic card is going to overheat within 2-4 minutes - on the output from air cooler there is 60 celcius degrees - so system is going to freeze usually after couple of minutes. (Not to mentioned that open source ati driver has fglrx up to 1900 fps, catalyst 11.6 patched has about 14200 fps).

    So , I have a lot of things to investigate and solve:-)
    These first three months in linux (went from windows) is really exciting ;-)
    If you have any hint , please let me know.

    M.

    ReplyDelete
  7. SankaranAugust 1, 2011 at 10:11 PM

    I want to sit with Ubuntu and do lots of such exciting things, I am stuck with my Xperia X10 and firmware update (hence windows 7)

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousAugust 3, 2011 at 5:54 AM

    :-))

    Finally, I have installed ubuntu kernel 3.0.0-7.9 and catalyst 11.7. Unfortunately fglrx downgraded fps to from 4000 to 8000 fps - big fluctuation (I had > 14000 fps with 2.6.39.3 and patched 11.6). Virtualbox 4.1 works. Vmware 7.1.4 does not. So, now I am waiting when it is gonna freeze ;-)

    (Just off the topic - Do you know some tweak/s how to persuade kernel (or ubuntu) to run overclocked (I have 5.1 Ghz in BIOS and memory to 1600 Ghz (but processor is not going over 3.4Ghz ;i7 2600k) - windows is OK with that, but I did not find so much how to persuade linux to use overclocked processor frequency.

    M.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousAugust 3, 2011 at 7:57 PM

    :-))

    It seems that my last post has been lost somewhere (> 12 hours)

    Just latest news. I have installed kernel 3.0.0-7.9 from ubuntu repository and catalyst 11.7 - works. But performance is horrible - fglrx measured fluently between 4000 and 8000 fps - which is weird. Your compiled kernel 2.6.39.3 with catalyst 11.6 patched is running on more than 14000 fps, so I am probably going to stuck with 2.6.39.3 for little bit longer ;-)

    Martin

    ReplyDelete
  10. SankaranAugust 3, 2011 at 8:20 PM

    Hi M

    I was not able to even check my mails as I was in my meeting, any comments older than 7 days comes to my inbox and I need to click publish, forgot to signin after I changed phone firmware ... just published your comments

    ReplyDelete
  11. SankaranAugust 3, 2011 at 8:27 PM

    I built kernel compiled for 3.0 but need to build it in ubuntu way ... otherwise it maynot build the dkms modules

    ReplyDelete
  12. SankaranAugust 3, 2011 at 8:55 PM

    > (Just off the topic - Do you know some tweak/s how to persuade kernel (or ubuntu) to run overclocked (I have 5.1 Ghz in BIOS and memory to 1600 Ghz (but processor is not going over 3.4Ghz ;i7 2600k) - windows is OK with that, but I did not find so much how to persuade linux to use overclocked processor frequency.

    After doing overclocking in bios, run ubuntu and change cpufrequency governor to cpufreq_performance (default is ondemand). Use cpufreq_tools to change cpufrequency.

    Inside ubuntu the frequency is always scaled down by acpi_cpufreq module (and cpufreq_ondemand which is the default cpufreq governor). One another way is not using cpufrequency scaling at all. To achieve this, we should build acpi_cpufreq as modules (ubuntu config builds these along with kernel and cant be unloaded at will)

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousAugust 12, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    Hi,

    After playing to try to backup my systems - tar (Even if i am using sudo mount -o ro,noload -L UBUEXT4_2 /media/DATA/_mount/ubuntupart2TB-97GB.ext4_2 - so , only read-only and no journaling - so , no writing on the partition at all - tar within the unpacking operation failed all the time - I tried to compile last tar version - same error results for large tar files) ,dar, rsync, 7z (does not support compress permissions and owners) - rsync is winner - I used rsync to create another ubuntu instance on another partition without any problems - and it was quick - /looks to me like copy and paste operation - I do like it/).
    Well, after reincarnation of btrfs installation, thanks to chroot (installed new 3.0.0-7 kernel + new graphic installation catalyst 11.7) I started to believe that ubuntu 11.04 with installed ubuntu kernel 3.0.0-7 and catalyst 11.7 on btrfs file system is working. After installation kernel 3.0.0-8 not through chroot but normally from synaptic package manager - I am again in freezed busybox :-)

    Concerning the cpu overclock I have been trying your suggestions:

    sudo cpufreq-set -g performance
    sudo modprobe msr
    sudo ./turbostat

    one of the result from ./turbostat:
    # one of the result from ./turbostar:
    # core CPU %c0 GHz TSC %c1 %c3 %c6 %c7 %pc2 %pc3 %pc6 %pc7
    # 22.72 5.09 3.40 29.17 0.18 47.94 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
    # 0 0 57.01 5.10 3.40 22.78 0.16 20.05 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
    # 0 4 34.26 5.10 3.40 45.53 0.16 20.05 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
    # 1 1 24.84 5.09 3.40 19.72 0.37 55.07 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
    # 1 5 5.95 5.05 3.40 38.61 0.37 55.07 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
    # 2 2 30.24 5.10 3.40 17.71 0.16 51.89 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
    # 2 6 13.80 5.10 3.40 34.15 0.16 51.89 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
    # 3 3 15.57 5.08 3.40 19.67 0.02 64.74 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
    # 3 7 0.10 5.10 3.40 35.14 0.02 64.74 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

    According to this it should be running on 5.1x Ghz but to be honest I am not sure If I can trust to this software. If you know some other softwares which is possible to use please let me know ;-)

    I had also run the:
    stress --cpu 8 --io 4 --vm 2 --vm-bytes 128M --timeout 10s --verbose

    but it went to freeze on ubuntu kernel 3.0.0-8. What I am surprised is , that on kernel 3.0.0-7 it runs ok for 10 seconds - I have tried it many times. But now, I am not able to repeat the test on 3.0.0-7 again (I did not understand the results from the stress command anyway :-(( )

    At this moment I am trying to collect information for kernel config. How to compile the kernel by ubuntu way (at this moment i do not know how to do it) - and use your kernel config together.

    Martin.

    ReplyDelete
  14. SankaranAugust 12, 2011 at 5:40 PM

    I compiled 3.0.1 kernel ubuntu way, visit my latest 3.0.1 article, I have explained step by step of how I did

    ReplyDelete

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