How to build the Alpine Linux kernel - Revision history

Prabuanand: updated wikilinks

2025-12-31T04:19:14Z

updated wikilinks

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:19, 31 December 2025
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	~~== How to build~~ the Alpine Linux ~~kernel ==~~		This page quickly demonstrates building/compiling the default Alpine Linux [[Kernels\|kernels]] "LTS" and "virt". They can be built within a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the speed of your system using <code>[[abuild]]</code>, [[aports]], and {{pkg\|alpine-sdk}}.

	~~This [[Tutorials and Howtos\|Howto]] quickly demonstrates building/compiling the default~~ Alpine Linux [[Kernels\|kernels]] ~~"LTS"~~ and ~~"virt"~~. ~~Alpine kernels extend the standard~~ [~~https://www.kernel.org/linux.html Linux kernel] and build within a few minutes to a few hours (depending on the speed of your system) using <code>~~[~~[abuild~~]]</~~code>, [https://gitlab.alpinelinux.org/alpine~~/~~aports aports]~~, ~~and [https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/package/edge/main/x86_64/alpine-sdk alpine-sdk]~~.		Alpine Linux supports multiple [[Kernels\|kernels]] that vary in features, file sizes and architectures. [[Custom Kernel\|Kernel customizations]] allow you to experiment by adding/removing kernel modules/features, is not covered in this page.

	~~Kernel customizations (not covered here) allow~~ you ~~to experiment by adding/removing kernel modules/features. Alpine releases multiple [https://alpinelinux.org/downloads/ downloads] which contain kernels that vary in features and file sizes.~~		== Before you start ==

	~~== Before you start ==~~
	A running instance of Alpine Linux and a non-root user with [https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/package/edge/main/x86_64/doas doas] privileges (i.e. sudo, wheel group) are required to use <code>[[abuild]]</code>.		A running instance of Alpine Linux and a non-root user with [https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/package/edge/main/x86_64/doas doas] privileges (i.e. sudo, wheel group) are required to use <code>[[abuild]]</code>.

John3-16: /* See also */ 1. Added: Kernel Live Patching (KLP); 2. Style amendment

2025-12-30T05:48:23Z

See also: 1. Added: Kernel Live Patching (KLP); 2. Style amendment

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:48, 30 December 2025
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	[[File:Alpine-kernel-revert.png\|465px]]		[[File:Alpine-kernel-revert.png\|465px]]

	== See ~~Also~~ ==		== See also ==

	* [[Kernels]]		* [[Kernels]]
	* [[Custom Kernel\|Custom Kernel (2018-present)]]		* [[Custom Kernel\|Custom Kernel (2018-present)]]
			* [[Kernel_live_patching\|Kernel Live Patching (KLP)]]

	[[Category:Kernel]]		[[Category:Kernel]]

John3-16: Added Category: Kernel

2025-12-06T04:41:08Z

Added Category: Kernel

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:41, 6 December 2025
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	* [[Kernels]]		* [[Kernels]]
	* [[Custom Kernel\|Custom Kernel (2018-present)]]		* [[Custom Kernel\|Custom Kernel (2018-present)]]

			[[Category:Kernel]]

Tuzu at 07:02, 5 May 2025

2025-05-05T07:02:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:02, 5 May 2025
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	<pre>		<pre>
	echo "kernel: $(uname -r)"		echo "kernel: $(uname -r)"
	apk list --installed linux-*		apk list --installed "linux-*"
	</pre>		</pre>

Anthumchris: initial page

2024-12-11T03:11:57Z

initial page

New page

== How to build the Alpine Linux kernel ==

This [[Tutorials and Howtos|Howto]] quickly demonstrates building/compiling the default Alpine Linux [[Kernels|kernels]] "LTS" and "virt". Alpine kernels extend the standard [https://www.kernel.org/linux.html Linux kernel] and build within a few minutes to a few hours (depending on the speed of your system) using <code>[[abuild]]</code>, [https://gitlab.alpinelinux.org/alpine/aports aports], and [https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/package/edge/main/x86_64/alpine-sdk alpine-sdk].

Kernel customizations (not covered here) allow you to experiment by adding/removing kernel modules/features. Alpine releases multiple [https://alpinelinux.org/downloads/ downloads] which contain kernels that vary in features and file sizes.

== Before you start ==
A running instance of Alpine Linux and a non-root user with [https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/package/edge/main/x86_64/doas doas] privileges (i.e. sudo, wheel group) are required to use <code>[[abuild]]</code>.

== Build & install the kernel ==

=== Build ===
<pre>
doas apk add alpine-sdk
doas addgroup USERNAME abuild # your non-root user

git clone --depth 1 https://gitlab.alpinelinux.org/alpine/aports.git
abuild-keygen --append --install
doas chmod a+r /etc/apk/keys/* # ensure new keys are readable

cd aports/main/linux-lts/
time abuild -crK
</pre>

=== Identify backup ===

Identify the package name of your current kernel (e.g. linux-lts, linux-virt). This example shows that '''linux-lts''' is the current package that we would revert to as a backup.

<pre>
echo "kernel: $(uname -r)"
apk list --installed linux-*
</pre>

[[File:Alpine-kernel-package2.png|600px]]

=== Install ===
Find the newly-built kernel file to install. This example shows how to install a newly-built x86_64 LTS kernel:

<pre>
ls -r ~/packages/main/*
doas apk add FILENAME
doas reboot
</pre>

[[File:Alpine-kernel-install.png|600px]]

After rebooting, verify the newly-installed kernel version:
<pre>
echo "kernel: $(uname -r)"
</pre>

[[File:Alpine-kernel-new.png|320px]]

=== Revert ===
If needed, revert to the previous backup kernel package we identified earlier. This example shows how to revert to the previous "alpine-lts" package after removing the newly-installed "alpine-lts" (both are named "alpine-lts" yet refer to different versions/locations):
<pre>
apk list linux-lts # newly-compiled kernel installed
doas apk del linux-lts # newly-compiled kernel from file
doas apk add linux-lts # previous kernel from Alpine repo
apk list linux-lts # previous kernel installed
doas reboot
</pre>

[[File:Alpine-kernel-revert.png|465px]]

== See Also ==

* [[Kernels]]
* [[Custom Kernel|Custom Kernel (2018-present)]]