Building a Preemt-RT Kernel

The kernel can be easily installed on a running system. During the boot process, the kernel is started with the latest version number by default. If you want to return to an old version, you can select the desired kernel version in the grub menu „Advanced options for Linux Mint“.

sudo apt install libncurses5-dev build-essential libssl-dev

Check here whether a patch is available for your currently installed kernel. If not, choose the next newer version and download the patch.

For example:
If you are running a 4.4.165 kernel choose the following patch:
patch-4.4.148-rt166-rc1.patch.gz

If you want to use a kernel version that is not already installed, please install the generic kernel with the correct version with this guide first.

• Clone the kernel

  git clone git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux-stable.git

• Check out the same version as chosen for the patch

  git checkout -b RTPatch tags/v4.4.148

For RT-patch v4.4.148-rt166-rc1 install generic kernel 4.4.0

Instructions

• Go into the kernel source directory
• Apply the patch

  cd <pathToKernelSrc>
  patch -p1 < <pathToPatch>/patch-4.4.148-rt166-rc1.patch

This selection will affect, how many modules will be built. The sizef and the range of functions of the monolitic kernel will not be changed. Additional modules can be built and installed after the kernel is installed.

• a.) Full module support (The easy way) A normal Linux distribution, like Ubuntu, will install a kernel and most of the available kernel modules. Many of them are never used, because they are drivers for hardware, which is not installed on the PC. This variant contains the same modules like a full Ubuntu kernel.
• b.) Minimal: (The propper way) This will only build modules which are essential. Some basic functionality, like WiFi drivers, may be missing. Some common Ethernet drive are in the monolithic part of the kernel and will still work. You can add all modules you need manually. This method is recommended in order to obtain a system that is as stable as possible. If fewer drivers are loaded, there is less risk that an unused driver will cause high latency.

1. Copy the kernel configuration from the generic kernel.
   • Make sure you copy the correct config-file with the correct version (i.e. config-4.4.0-040400-generic)

     cd <pathToKernelSrc>
     cp /boot/<yourDistributionConfig> ./.config

2. Applay the configuration to the patched kernel sources.

   make oldconfig

   • This will apply the configuration. However, since the kernel is patched and not identical to the generic kernel, not all configurations are defined. Acccept all presented options with ENTER.

You have three different options:

• 1.) Configure the kernel to add only the bare minimum. Add all additional modules manually.
• 2.) Configure the kernel to add all modules, which are currently loaded on the host pc.
• 3.) Configure the kernel to add all modules, which are currently loaded on a different pc.

1. cd <pathToKernelSrc>
2. Depending on the CPU architecture:
   1. X86 - 64bit make x86_64_defconfig
   2. X86 - 32bit make i386_defconfig
   3. See <pathToKernelSrc>/arch/<architecture>/configs for more possibilities
3. Open the configuration menu make menuconfig
4. Add all modules and drivers you need.

1. cd <pathToKernelSrc>
2. make localmodconfig
3. Open the configuration menu make menuconfig
4. Add all additional modules and drivers you need.

Note: Most modules are only loaded when they are needed.

On target machine (with generic kernel loaded):

1. lsmod > /tmp/mylsmod

On host:

1. cd <pathToKernelSrc>
2. Copy the 'mylsmod' file:
   1. scp <targetUsername>@<targetHostname>:/tmp/mylsmod ./
3. make LSMOD=./mylsmod localmodconfig
4. Open the configuration menu make menuconfig
5. Add all additional modules and drivers you need.

1. Open the configuration menu

   make menuconfig

2. Enable the fully preemptible kernel (The path may be different depending on the kernel version)
   • Processor type and features —> Preemption Model /Voluntary Kernel Preemption (Desktop)) —> (X) Fully Preemptible Kernel (RT)
     • or
   • Kernel options —> Preemption Model (No Forced Preemption (Server)) —> (X) Fully Preemptible Kernel (RT)
3. Deactivate expert mode
   1. General setup —> [ ] Configure standard kernel features (expert users)
4. Save the configuration and exit the menu

This will going to take about an hour.

1. Compile kernel

   make -j8

2. Compile modules

   make modules -j8

3. Install kernel modules

   sudo make modules_install

4. Install kernel

   sudo make install

5. Reboot
6. Check with uname -a the kernel version