kexec

kexec is a system call that enables loading and booting into another kernel. This is useful for faster reboots that skip the firmware initialisation process and the bootloader.

Preparing

In Alpine 3.19 and up, the userspace tools required to use it can be installed via

apk add kexec-tools kexec-tools-doc

But note that not all kernels are compiled with the kexec syscall enabled. You should check the /boot/config-* file for CONFIG_KEXEC=y

Most Alpine kernels have been hardened and return kexec_load failed: Operation not permitted if kexec is called without being unlocked with the kernel boot parameter

kexec_load_disabled=0.

Without it the sysctl setting kernel.kexec_load_disabled defaults to 1 and it can't be turned off in the running kernel, so you need to add the parameter to your bootloader configuration and reboot.

Usage

Manually

Note: Currently multiple initrd (e.g. for loading CPU microcode) is not supported

On a typical Alpine setup, it can be used via:

# kexec -l /boot/vmlinuz-edge --initrd \ /boot/initramfs-edge --reuse-cmdline \ && openrc shutdown # kexec -e

Automatically on every reboot/shutdown

kexec can be set to run automatically for faster rebooting. This is very useful on servers.

First create two openrc services and edit the BOOTPART, KERNEL, and INITRD variables if not using the defaults:

Contents of /etc/init.d/kexec-load

#!/sbin/openrc-run
description="kexec for faster reboot"
# Define defaults
: "${BOOTPART:=/boot}"
: "${KERNEL:=vmlinuz-edge}"
: "${INITRD:=initramfs-edge}"

depend() {
	need localmount
}

start() {
	:
}

stop() {
	if ! yesno ${RC_GOINGDOWN}; then
		einfo "kexec-load: Not rebooting or powering off; not loading kernel"
		exit
	fi
	ebegin "kexec-load: loading kernel for faster reboot"
	kexec -l "${BOOTPART}/${KERNEL}" \
		--initrd "${BOOTPART}/${INITRD}" \
		--reuse-cmdline
	ewend $? Failed.
}

Contents of /etc/init.d/kexec-exec

#! /sbin/openrc-run
description="kexec for faster reboot"
depend() {
	after killprocs savecache mount-ro
}
start() {
	ebegin "kexec-exec: Using kexec for faster reboot" 
	kexec -e
	ewend $? "kexec-exec No kernel loaded."
	return 0
}

Now give these services execute permission and assign them to the appropriate runlevels:

chmod a+x /etc/init.d/kexec-load chmod a+x /etc/init.d/kexec-exec rc-update add kexec-load default rc-update add kexec-exec shutdown rc-service kexec-load start

kexec will run on your next reboot or poweroff enjoy!

Note: With both of the above service enabled, the system will reboot via kexec even if you are attempting to poweroff. To temporarily restore default poweroff or reboot behavior, simply run rc-service kexec-load stop beforehand.

Preparing

Usage

Manually

Automatically on every reboot/shutdown

See also