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= Package repository with Linux vanilla kernels for Fedora =  
= Linux kernel vanilla repositories for Fedora Linux =


This page contains information about a [http://repos.fedorapeople.org/repos/thl/ set of repositories] which contain RPM packages with Linux vanilla kernels built for Fedora. 'Vanilla' in this scope means 'unmodified'. In other words: the sources used to compile those kernels come straight from kernel.org and do not contain any of the enhancements which the official Fedora kernels contain.
The kernel vanilla repositories allow you to quickly, comfortably, and cleanly install the latest upstream Linux kernel versions on Fedora Linux. [https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/groups/g/kernel-vanilla/coprs/ Six 'coprs' offer various ready-to-use kernel packages] built from upstream Linux series like ‘mainline’ and ‘stable’; the provided RPMs are ideal for both quick tests and regular day-to-day use.


= How to use these repos =
To install the latest kernel version deemed for end users, follow the instructions in the next section. For various other use cases, head over to the second section below to check which of the six coprs provides the Linux kernels you want; then enable the selected copr and install its latest kernel as explained in the third section. When you later want to remove the kernel vanilla repositories and all packages retrieved from them, consult the fourth section.


== How to use, the quick (aka TLDR) verison ==
Note, the instructions in those sections are meant for users of Fedora variants like Workstation, Server, or KDE Plasma Desktop. Fedora Atomic Desktops like Silverblue or Kinoite need different commands described in a fifth section below.
 
== Install the latest Linux version meant for end users ==
 
To install the latest Linux kernel meant for regular end users run the following commands:


Download the definitions for the Kernel vanilla repositories:
<pre>
<pre>
curl -s https://repos.fedorapeople.org/repos/thl/kernel-vanilla.repo | sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/kernel-vanilla.repo
sudo dnf -y copr enable @kernel-vanilla/stable
sudo dnf upgrade kernel
mokutil --sb-state
</pre>
</pre>


Run this to get the latest development kernel:
The first two commands enable the ‘stable’ copr, which then is used via DNF to install the latest mainline kernel (say 6.1) or the latest version from a stable series derived from it (e.g. 6.1.1, 6.1.2, …). The third command will tell you if UEFI Secure Boot is active on your system. If that's the case you have to either disable it in your system's BIOS Setup or through a process initiated through <code>mokutil --disable-validation</code>; that's required, as your firmware will otherwise reject booting kernels installed from these repositories.
<pre>
 
sudo dnf --enablerepo=kernel-vanilla-mainline update
== Linux kernels offered in the six kernel vanilla coprs ==
</pre>
 
The kernel vanilla repositories for Fedora Linux provide six @kernel-vanilla coprs to serve different use-cases. Use the following table to decide which of them you want to use: ‘[https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/g/kernel-vanilla/fedora/ fedora]’, ‘[https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/g/kernel-vanilla/stable/ stable]’, ‘[https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/g/kernel-vanilla/stable-rc/ stable-rc]’, ‘[https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/g/kernel-vanilla/mainline-wo-mergew/ mainline-wo-mergew]’, ‘[https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/g/kernel-vanilla/mainline/ mainline]’, or ‘[https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/g/kernel-vanilla/next/ next]’.


You don't want to run a development kernel and want the latest stable kernel instead? Then run this:
{| class="wikitable"
<pre>
!style="width: 17%;"|@kernel-vanilla copr
sudo dnf --enablerepo=kernel-vanilla-stable update
!style="width: 30%;"|description
</pre>
!style="width: 13%;"|example version sequence
!style="width: 40%;"|target users
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| '''fedora'''
| The latest kernel version from the stable series the latest Fedora Linux release currently uses.
| …, 6.0.18,<br>6.0.19,<br>6.1.5,<br>6.1.6, …
| This is mainly meant for users that want to check if a bug that happens with Fedora's kernel also occurs with the latest upstream version from the same kernel series.
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| '''stable'''
| The latest kernel version meant for regular end users, e.g. either the latest mainline release or the newest version from a stable series derived from it.
| …, 6.0.15,<br>6.1,<br>6.1.1,<br>6.1.2, …
| Anyone who wants the latest and greatest kernel.
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| '''stable-rc'''
| Pre-releases of the next release from the latest stable series.
| …, 6.0.15-rc1,<br>6.0.15,<br>6.1,<br>6.1.1-rc1,<br>6.1.1, …
| Anyone who wants to help testing Linux kernels from the latest stable series about to be released.
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| '''mainline-wo-mergew'''
| The latest mainline kernel, either built from a proper release, a pre-release (aka "rc kernel"), or a git snapshot – albeit  the latter only after -rc1 was released.
| …, 6.1-rc8-20221211,<br>6.1,<br>6.1.1-rc1,<br>6.1.1,<br>6.2-rc1,<br>6.2-rc1-20221226, …
| Anyone who wants to run a kernel built from the latest Linux codebase, except when mainline is in a 'merge window' – that is the phase right after a new mainline release (say 6.1) when the bulk of changes (including all riskier ones!) are merged for the next mainline version; this phase ends with the publication of that kernel version's first pre-release (e.g. "6.2-rc1").
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| '''mainline'''
| The latest mainline kernel, either built from a proper release, a pre-release (aka "rc kernel"), or a git snapshot.
| …, 6.1-rc8-20221211,<br>6.1,<br>6.2-rc0-20221213,<br>6.2-rc0-20221214, …
| Anyone who wants to run a kernel built from the latest Linux codebase.
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| '''next'''
| Linux-next kernels.
| …, 6.1-0.0.next.20221209,<br>6.2-0.0.next.20221212, <br>6.2-0.0.next.20221213, …
| Anyone who wants to run linux-next or test if the changes slated for inclusion in the next mainline cycle fix a problem.
|}


Reboot. That's it – at least most of the time, as sometimes it's not that easy:
'''Note''', only the fedora and next coprs are stand-alone; the other four each include coprs mentioned earlier in the table as a runtime dependency. Users of the ‘stable-rc’ copr thus will receive packages from the ‘stable’ or ‘fedora’ coprs when the latter contain kernels which package managers like DNF will considers newer. That way users of stable-rc copr won't be stuck on a -rc release with known problems that were fixed between the -rc and the final release.


* Is UEFI Secure Boot active on your system? Then you have to disable it in your BIOS Setup to run kernels from these repos, as they are not signed with a key that a default Secure Boot setup considers trusted.
Another note relevant for users of Fedora versions in development, e.g rawhide and beta releases: be aware that these repositories will not provide kernel versions older than the one the particular Fedora release uses by default, as doing so could lead to problems. Rawhide for example regularly uses the latest mainline snapshots; that’s why rawhide users that have one of these repos enabled will receive vanilla mainline snapshots as well, even if they chose the ‘stable’ or ‘mainline-wo-mergew’ repos. Users of Fedora pre-releases (e.g. beta versions) might see similar effects, but once the Fedora version gets closer to its release things will start to work as advertised.


* Nothing gets installed by the "dnf update"-command? Then the version of the latest kernel package installed on your machine is higher than the version of the latest kernel packagers offered in the chosen kernel-vanilla repository.
== How to install a kernel from the vanilla repositories ==


* The newly installed kernel should get started by default. If that's not the case there is something fishy in your boot configuration. For example, if you start Fedora using a boot manger from a different distribution you'll have to boot into that one and update its boot loader configuration to start the newly installed kernel; in Ubuntu you do that by running <code>update-grub</code>.
First enable the kernel vanilla copr you want to use – for example the one shipping a kernel built from the latest mainline code:


Optionally run
<pre>
<pre>
sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled kernel-vanilla-mainline
sudo dnf -y copr enable @kernel-vanilla/mainline
</pre>
</pre>


or
Now update your system to install the latest package from the copr:


<pre>
<pre>
sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled kernel-vanilla-stable
sudo dnf upgrade kernel kernel-devel
</pre>
</pre>


if you want to enable one of those repos permanently. They are the two main repos this page is about. There are three more for special use cases. For details see below.
If you’re on a x86-64 (aka AMD64) system execute the following command as well:
 
<pre>
mokutil --sb-state
</pre>


== How to use, the verbose version ==
If it tells you ‘SecureBoot enabled’ you will have to turn it off either in your BIOS Setup or through a process initiated with <code>sudo mokutil --disable-validation</code>. That sadly is needed, as your system otherwise will reject booting any kernels from these repositories: it's technically impossible to sign the kernels in copr with a key typical x86-64 systems will trust.


=== Configure the repositories ===
Once you booted your vanilla kernel you have two options:


First download the repository definitions for DNF:
(1) In case you want to use the chosen copr regularly, be aware that for frequently updated kernel vanilla coprs like mainline there is quite a risk that DNF misses the latest kernels and installs obsolete ones. To prevent that, tell dnf to check the kernel vanilla repositories more often than usual with a command like this one:


<pre>
<pre>
curl -s https://repos.fedorapeople.org/repos/thl/kernel-vanilla.repo | sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/kernel-vanilla.repo
sudo sed -i 's!baseurl=https://download.copr.fedorainfracloud.org/results/@kernel-vanilla/\(mainline\|stable-rc\|next\).*!&\nmetadata_expire=1h!g; s!baseurl=https://download.copr.fedorainfracloud.org/results/@kernel-vanilla/\(stable\|fedora\)/.*!&\nmetadata_expire=3h!g;' /etc/yum.repos.d/_copr:copr.fedorainfracloud.org:group_kernel-vanilla:*.repo
</pre>
</pre>


This will install a repo file with following repos:
(2) In case you installed a vanilla kernel just for a quick test, consider removing the just configured copr immediately, as explained in the next section. It also explains how to later uninstall packages installed from the kernel vanilla coprs, which is needed to ensure you retrieve newly released kernels from Fedora again.
 
{| class="wikitable"
!style="vertical-align:top;"|repository
!description
!target users
!example versions
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| kernel-vanilla-mainline
| the latest kernels from the Linux mainline series
| those who want the latest mainline kernel
| 4.4, 4.5-rc0-git1, 4.5-rc1, 4.5-rc1-git2
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| kernel-vanilla-mainline-wo-mergew
| the latest kernels from the Linux mainline series, except during the merge window, when it might contain the latest stable kernel.
| those who want the latest mainline kernel, but want to avoid development versions from the merge window (like 4.5-rc0-git1) – that the phase in the development cycle when the bulk of changes get merged for a new kernel version
| 4.4, 4.4.1, 4.5-rc1, 4.5-rc1-git2
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| kernel-vanilla-stable
| the latest non-development version from the mainline or stable kernel series
| those who want the latest Linux stable kernel
| 4.4, 4.4.1
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| kernel-vanilla-stable-rc
| the latest non-development version from the mainline or stable kernel series, but also kernels from the stable series that are about to get released
| those who want to help testing new stable kernels
| 4.4, 4.4.1, 4.4.2-rc1
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| kernel-vanilla-fedora
| contains a vanilla build of the latest kernel which Fedora currently ships or has in its update queue; most of the time this repository will contain the same kernels as kernel-vanilla-stable, except for times when Fedora hasn't yet jumped to the latest major version
| those who want to check if a vanilla kernel shows the same bug or behavior as the Fedora kernel
| 4.4, 4.4.1
|}


Chose which one of those you want to use. The following examples assume you want to use the <code>
== How to remove the kernel vanilla repositories and uninstall kernels installed from them ==
kernel-vanilla-mainline</code> repository, hence adjust the commands if you want to use a different repository.


=== Install a kernel from the repository ===
Disable any kernel vanilla copr you enabled:


Run this command to install the latest mainline kernel from the kernel vanilla repos:
<pre>
<pre>
sudo dnf --enablerepo=kernel-vanilla-mainline update
dnf copr list | grep 'group_kernel-vanilla' | xargs -r sudo dnf copr remove
</pre>
</pre>


Alternatively you can permanently enable that repository to make DNF automatically install new kernel packages when updating the system:
Now downgrade the kernel and a few related packages to the latest versions Fedora provides:


<pre>
<pre>
sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled kernel-vanilla-mainline
sudo dnf --refresh distrosync bpftool 'kernel*' 'libperf*' perf python3-perf rtla rv
sudo dnf update
</pre>
</pre>


When you install a kernel from the repository for the first time DNF will ask you if you trust the [https://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0xD7927A2FCC9DBCAB public key] that is used to verify the signature of the packages from the kernel vanilla repositories. It will look like this:
It's not strictly required, but highly recommended to boot into the latest official Fedora kernel now. To do so, restart and choose the top-most kernel from the boot menu that does not have 'vanilla' in the name.
 
Now remove all kernels installed from the kernel vanilla coprs:
 
<pre>
<pre>
Retrieving key from https://repos.fedorapeople.org/repos/thl/RPM-GPG-KEY-knurd-kernel-vanilla
rpm -qa 'kernel' 'kernel*core*' 'kernel*modules*' 'kernel*devel*' | grep '.vanilla' | xargs -r sudo dnf remove
Importing GPG key 0xCC9DBCAB:
Userid    : "Thorsten Leemhuis (Key for signing vanilla kernel rpms) <fedora@leemhuis.info>"
Fingerprint: e5e8 d53e e5af be95 633d 690f d792 7a2f cc9d bcab
From      : https://repos.fedorapeople.org/repos/thl/RPM-GPG-KEY-knurd-kernel-vanilla
Is this ok [y/N]:
</pre>
</pre>


DNF will proceed once you acknowledge this.  
If you disabled UEFI Secure Boot, you might want to turn it on again using the path you took to disable it, e.g. either through your BIOS Setup or a a process initiated with <code>sudo mokutil --enable-validation</code>.  


= Important notes =
From now on your system will behave like one that never had these repositories enabled or kernels installed from it.


Please be aware that
== Instructions for Fedora Atomic Desktops ==


* none of the developers that maintain the Fedora kernel is involved in the maintenance of the kernel vanilla repos for Fedora
'' '''Important note''': the following instructions only work as intended for the @kernel-vanilla coprs 'fedora' and 'next', as those are the only ones that are stand alone. The instructions most of the time will do the right thing on 'mainline-wo-mergew' copr as well; but with the @kernel-vanilla coprs 'stable', 'stable-rc', and 'mainline' they will often install an obsolete kernel and remain on it. That's because the latest versions suitable for users of those coprs in about 50 to 80 percent of the time is distributed through a higher level copr the repo files for those coprs enable as coprdep. The note under the table above explains this scheme in more detail. This approach works well with DNF, but [https://github.com/coreos/rpm-ostree/issues/4708 to our knowledge is unsupported by 'rpm-ostree overlay'], as it ignores the coprdep repos.''
* most systems work better and are run in a more secure manner with the official Fedora kernels
* if you don't know what above commands do then you likely should not use these repos or its packages


= More details about the kernel vanilla repos =
Use the following commands to install the latest kernel from the 'mainline-wo-mergew' copr on Fedora Atomic Desktops like Silverblue or Kinoite:


== What kernel versions do the repos currently contain? ==
<pre>
copr="mainline-wo-mergew"
curl -s "https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/g/kernel-vanilla/${copr}/repo/fedora-rawhide/group_kernel-vanilla-${copr}-fedora-rawhide.repo" | sudo tee "/etc/yum.repos.d/_copr:copr.fedorainfracloud.org:group_kernel-vanilla:${copr}.repo"
sudo rpm-ostree override replace --experimental --from repo="copr:copr.fedorainfracloud.org:group_kernel-vanilla:${copr}" kernel kernel-core kernel-modules kernel-modules-core kernel-modules-extra
</pre>


Look at [http://www.leemhuis.info/files/kernel-vanilla/repostatus.txt this file] or cut'n'paste these lines if you want to query the latest status yourself:
To later remove the kernel vanilla packages and the repository configuration, run the following commands:


<pre>
<pre>
releases="25 24 23 22"; branches="mainline mainline-wo-mergew stable-rc stable fedora"; \
sudo rpm-ostree override reset kernel kernel-core kernel-modules kernel-modules-core kernel-modules-extra
for branch in ${branches} ; do for release in ${releases} ; do
sudo rm "/etc/yum.repos.d/_copr:copr.fedorainfracloud.org:group_kernel-vanilla"*
  queryresult=$(dnf repoquery --repofrompath=repo,http://repos.fedorapeople.org/repos/thl/kernel-vanilla-${branch}/fedora-${release}/x86_64/ --disablerepo=* --enablerepo=repo --available --latest-limit=1 -q kernel 2>/dev/null)
  echo "${branch} ${release} ${queryresult:-not_available}"
done; done | column -t | sed 's!kernel-0:!!; s!.x86_64!!;'
</pre>
</pre>


== Who is behind this effort?  ==
== How vanilla kernels compare to Fedora’s ==


Right now the kernel vanilla repositories for Fedora are maintained by [[user:thl|Thorsten Leemhuis (aka "knurd")]] only. Maybe over time people join to help, that's why this text is written as if a team is keeping care of the repositories.  
Most of the time kernels from the kernel vanilla coprs will work roundabout as well and secure as Fedora’s. Sometimes though the kernels from these repositories will work better, as they contain drivers or security fixes that haven’t reached the kernel used by Fedora Linux yet; other times it's the other way around, as Fedora sometimes includes fixes that upstream hasn't picked up yet. Those differences rarely matter much.


== How can I uninstall all kernels from the kernel vanilla repositories ==
== Empty or apparently coprs are normal ==


Boot into a stock Fedora kernel and run
Please be aware that at least one and up to three out of the six kernel vanilla coprs will always look empty or outdated when you check copr’s web interface or look straight at the package repositories. That is totally normal, as it will look like that when the most recent build suitable for users of that copr is found in one of the other copr included as a runtime dependency. See the note under above table for a more detailed explanation.
<pre>
sudo dnf remove $(rpm -qa 'kernel*' | grep '.vanilla.knurd' )
</pre>
DNF will then show what is about to get uninstalled; review that list carefully and better abort if something looks fishy.


== What is the goal of these repositories? Are these kernels as good as those Fedora provides? ==
== Linux kernel versions currently offered ==


These and other questions are [[Kernel_Vanilla_Repositories-FAQ|answered in the FAQ about the kernel vanilla repositories]].
A '''[https://www.leemhuis.info/files/kernel-vanilla/repostatus.txt repostatus file shows what the repositories currently provide]'''. Alternatively, execute the following script to query the latest packages locally:


= Known issues and differences =
<pre>
dists=(38 39 rawhide)
dnf clean all > /dev/null
for repo in fedora stable{,-rc} mainline{-wo-mergew,} next; do
[[ ${repo} =~ (fedora|next) ]] && unset repostring
repostring="${repostring} --repofrompath=kvr-${repo},https://download.copr.fedorainfracloud.org/results/@kernel-vanilla/${repo}/fedora-\${distro}-x86_64/"
for distro in ${dists[*]} ; do
    queryresult="$(eval dnf repoquery ${repostring} --disablerepo=* --enablerepo=kvr-* --latest-limit=1 -q kernel --arch x86_64 --qf '%{version}-%{release}')"
  printf '%-20s %-10s %s\n' "${repo}" "${distro}" "${queryresult:-lookup failed}"
done
done
</pre>


The following sections will list differences to Fedora's proper kernel packages that might be relevant to users. It will also list known problems specific to the packaging of the vanilla kernels.
== Developers behind the effort and point of contact  ==


== General ==
The Linux kernel vanilla repositories for Fedora are maintained by [[user:thl|Thorsten Leemhuis (aka "knurd")]] since [https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/kernel@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/NNSLWMKQSGALKX7VGWATKWTGAOU6LZ5I/ late 2012]. The packages they provide are build using a RPM spec file that is nearly identical to the one used to build Fedora’s kernel. Note though that none of the maintainers of the the official Fedora Linux kernel are involved in the maintenance of these repositories.


* No issues known.
For any feedback or questions regarding the kernel vanilla repositories contact [[user:thl|Thorsten Leemhuis (aka "knurd")]].


= ToDo list =
== What’s the goal of these repositories? And are these kernels as good as Fedora’s? ==


* enable some of the staging drivers Fedora avoids (basically those a well known add-on repository for Fedora ships as add-on package)
These and many other questions are answered in the [[Kernel_Vanilla_Repositories-FAQ|FAQ about the Linux kernel vanilla repositories for Fedora Linux]].
* automate builds more to keep repos more up2date
* automate builds for stable-testing kernels

Latest revision as of 08:10, 21 March 2024

Linux kernel vanilla repositories for Fedora Linux

The kernel vanilla repositories allow you to quickly, comfortably, and cleanly install the latest upstream Linux kernel versions on Fedora Linux. Six 'coprs' offer various ready-to-use kernel packages built from upstream Linux series like ‘mainline’ and ‘stable’; the provided RPMs are ideal for both quick tests and regular day-to-day use.

To install the latest kernel version deemed for end users, follow the instructions in the next section. For various other use cases, head over to the second section below to check which of the six coprs provides the Linux kernels you want; then enable the selected copr and install its latest kernel as explained in the third section. When you later want to remove the kernel vanilla repositories and all packages retrieved from them, consult the fourth section.

Note, the instructions in those sections are meant for users of Fedora variants like Workstation, Server, or KDE Plasma Desktop. Fedora Atomic Desktops like Silverblue or Kinoite need different commands described in a fifth section below.

Install the latest Linux version meant for end users

To install the latest Linux kernel meant for regular end users run the following commands:

sudo dnf -y copr enable @kernel-vanilla/stable
sudo dnf upgrade kernel
mokutil --sb-state

The first two commands enable the ‘stable’ copr, which then is used via DNF to install the latest mainline kernel (say 6.1) or the latest version from a stable series derived from it (e.g. 6.1.1, 6.1.2, …). The third command will tell you if UEFI Secure Boot is active on your system. If that's the case you have to either disable it in your system's BIOS Setup or through a process initiated through mokutil --disable-validation; that's required, as your firmware will otherwise reject booting kernels installed from these repositories.

Linux kernels offered in the six kernel vanilla coprs

The kernel vanilla repositories for Fedora Linux provide six @kernel-vanilla coprs to serve different use-cases. Use the following table to decide which of them you want to use: ‘fedora’, ‘stable’, ‘stable-rc’, ‘mainline-wo-mergew’, ‘mainline’, or ‘next’.

@kernel-vanilla copr description example version sequence target users
fedora The latest kernel version from the stable series the latest Fedora Linux release currently uses. …, 6.0.18,
6.0.19,
6.1.5,
6.1.6, …
This is mainly meant for users that want to check if a bug that happens with Fedora's kernel also occurs with the latest upstream version from the same kernel series.
stable The latest kernel version meant for regular end users, e.g. either the latest mainline release or the newest version from a stable series derived from it. …, 6.0.15,
6.1,
6.1.1,
6.1.2, …
Anyone who wants the latest and greatest kernel.
stable-rc Pre-releases of the next release from the latest stable series. …, 6.0.15-rc1,
6.0.15,
6.1,
6.1.1-rc1,
6.1.1, …
Anyone who wants to help testing Linux kernels from the latest stable series about to be released.
mainline-wo-mergew The latest mainline kernel, either built from a proper release, a pre-release (aka "rc kernel"), or a git snapshot – albeit the latter only after -rc1 was released. …, 6.1-rc8-20221211,
6.1,
6.1.1-rc1,
6.1.1,
6.2-rc1,
6.2-rc1-20221226, …
Anyone who wants to run a kernel built from the latest Linux codebase, except when mainline is in a 'merge window' – that is the phase right after a new mainline release (say 6.1) when the bulk of changes (including all riskier ones!) are merged for the next mainline version; this phase ends with the publication of that kernel version's first pre-release (e.g. "6.2-rc1").
mainline The latest mainline kernel, either built from a proper release, a pre-release (aka "rc kernel"), or a git snapshot. …, 6.1-rc8-20221211,
6.1,
6.2-rc0-20221213,
6.2-rc0-20221214, …
Anyone who wants to run a kernel built from the latest Linux codebase.
next Linux-next kernels. …, 6.1-0.0.next.20221209,
6.2-0.0.next.20221212,
6.2-0.0.next.20221213, …
Anyone who wants to run linux-next or test if the changes slated for inclusion in the next mainline cycle fix a problem.

Note, only the fedora and next coprs are stand-alone; the other four each include coprs mentioned earlier in the table as a runtime dependency. Users of the ‘stable-rc’ copr thus will receive packages from the ‘stable’ or ‘fedora’ coprs when the latter contain kernels which package managers like DNF will considers newer. That way users of stable-rc copr won't be stuck on a -rc release with known problems that were fixed between the -rc and the final release.

Another note relevant for users of Fedora versions in development, e.g rawhide and beta releases: be aware that these repositories will not provide kernel versions older than the one the particular Fedora release uses by default, as doing so could lead to problems. Rawhide for example regularly uses the latest mainline snapshots; that’s why rawhide users that have one of these repos enabled will receive vanilla mainline snapshots as well, even if they chose the ‘stable’ or ‘mainline-wo-mergew’ repos. Users of Fedora pre-releases (e.g. beta versions) might see similar effects, but once the Fedora version gets closer to its release things will start to work as advertised.

How to install a kernel from the vanilla repositories

First enable the kernel vanilla copr you want to use – for example the one shipping a kernel built from the latest mainline code:

sudo dnf -y copr enable @kernel-vanilla/mainline

Now update your system to install the latest package from the copr:

sudo dnf upgrade kernel kernel-devel

If you’re on a x86-64 (aka AMD64) system execute the following command as well:

mokutil --sb-state

If it tells you ‘SecureBoot enabled’ you will have to turn it off either in your BIOS Setup or through a process initiated with sudo mokutil --disable-validation. That sadly is needed, as your system otherwise will reject booting any kernels from these repositories: it's technically impossible to sign the kernels in copr with a key typical x86-64 systems will trust.

Once you booted your vanilla kernel you have two options:

(1) In case you want to use the chosen copr regularly, be aware that for frequently updated kernel vanilla coprs like mainline there is quite a risk that DNF misses the latest kernels and installs obsolete ones. To prevent that, tell dnf to check the kernel vanilla repositories more often than usual with a command like this one:

sudo sed -i 's!baseurl=https://download.copr.fedorainfracloud.org/results/@kernel-vanilla/\(mainline\|stable-rc\|next\).*!&\nmetadata_expire=1h!g; s!baseurl=https://download.copr.fedorainfracloud.org/results/@kernel-vanilla/\(stable\|fedora\)/.*!&\nmetadata_expire=3h!g;' /etc/yum.repos.d/_copr:copr.fedorainfracloud.org:group_kernel-vanilla:*.repo

(2) In case you installed a vanilla kernel just for a quick test, consider removing the just configured copr immediately, as explained in the next section. It also explains how to later uninstall packages installed from the kernel vanilla coprs, which is needed to ensure you retrieve newly released kernels from Fedora again.

How to remove the kernel vanilla repositories and uninstall kernels installed from them

Disable any kernel vanilla copr you enabled:

dnf copr list | grep 'group_kernel-vanilla' | xargs -r sudo dnf copr remove

Now downgrade the kernel and a few related packages to the latest versions Fedora provides:

sudo dnf --refresh distrosync bpftool 'kernel*' 'libperf*' perf python3-perf rtla rv

It's not strictly required, but highly recommended to boot into the latest official Fedora kernel now. To do so, restart and choose the top-most kernel from the boot menu that does not have 'vanilla' in the name.

Now remove all kernels installed from the kernel vanilla coprs:

rpm -qa 'kernel' 'kernel*core*' 'kernel*modules*' 'kernel*devel*' | grep '.vanilla' | xargs -r sudo dnf remove

If you disabled UEFI Secure Boot, you might want to turn it on again using the path you took to disable it, e.g. either through your BIOS Setup or a a process initiated with sudo mokutil --enable-validation.

From now on your system will behave like one that never had these repositories enabled or kernels installed from it.

Instructions for Fedora Atomic Desktops

Important note: the following instructions only work as intended for the @kernel-vanilla coprs 'fedora' and 'next', as those are the only ones that are stand alone. The instructions most of the time will do the right thing on 'mainline-wo-mergew' copr as well; but with the @kernel-vanilla coprs 'stable', 'stable-rc', and 'mainline' they will often install an obsolete kernel and remain on it. That's because the latest versions suitable for users of those coprs in about 50 to 80 percent of the time is distributed through a higher level copr the repo files for those coprs enable as coprdep. The note under the table above explains this scheme in more detail. This approach works well with DNF, but to our knowledge is unsupported by 'rpm-ostree overlay', as it ignores the coprdep repos.

Use the following commands to install the latest kernel from the 'mainline-wo-mergew' copr on Fedora Atomic Desktops like Silverblue or Kinoite:

copr="mainline-wo-mergew"
curl -s "https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/g/kernel-vanilla/${copr}/repo/fedora-rawhide/group_kernel-vanilla-${copr}-fedora-rawhide.repo" | sudo tee "/etc/yum.repos.d/_copr:copr.fedorainfracloud.org:group_kernel-vanilla:${copr}.repo"
sudo rpm-ostree override replace --experimental --from repo="copr:copr.fedorainfracloud.org:group_kernel-vanilla:${copr}" kernel kernel-core kernel-modules kernel-modules-core kernel-modules-extra

To later remove the kernel vanilla packages and the repository configuration, run the following commands:

sudo rpm-ostree override reset kernel kernel-core kernel-modules kernel-modules-core kernel-modules-extra 
sudo rm "/etc/yum.repos.d/_copr:copr.fedorainfracloud.org:group_kernel-vanilla"*

How vanilla kernels compare to Fedora’s

Most of the time kernels from the kernel vanilla coprs will work roundabout as well and secure as Fedora’s. Sometimes though the kernels from these repositories will work better, as they contain drivers or security fixes that haven’t reached the kernel used by Fedora Linux yet; other times it's the other way around, as Fedora sometimes includes fixes that upstream hasn't picked up yet. Those differences rarely matter much.

Empty or apparently coprs are normal

Please be aware that at least one and up to three out of the six kernel vanilla coprs will always look empty or outdated when you check copr’s web interface or look straight at the package repositories. That is totally normal, as it will look like that when the most recent build suitable for users of that copr is found in one of the other copr included as a runtime dependency. See the note under above table for a more detailed explanation.

Linux kernel versions currently offered

A repostatus file shows what the repositories currently provide. Alternatively, execute the following script to query the latest packages locally:

dists=(38 39 rawhide)
dnf clean all > /dev/null
for repo in fedora stable{,-rc} mainline{-wo-mergew,} next; do
	[[ ${repo} =~ (fedora|next) ]] && unset repostring
	repostring="${repostring} --repofrompath=kvr-${repo},https://download.copr.fedorainfracloud.org/results/@kernel-vanilla/${repo}/fedora-\${distro}-x86_64/"
	for distro in ${dists[*]} ; do
  	  queryresult="$(eval dnf repoquery ${repostring} --disablerepo=* --enablerepo=kvr-* --latest-limit=1 -q kernel --arch x86_64 --qf '%{version}-%{release}')"
		  printf '%-20s %-10s %s\n' "${repo}" "${distro}" "${queryresult:-lookup failed}"
	done
done

Developers behind the effort and point of contact

The Linux kernel vanilla repositories for Fedora are maintained by Thorsten Leemhuis (aka "knurd") since late 2012. The packages they provide are build using a RPM spec file that is nearly identical to the one used to build Fedora’s kernel. Note though that none of the maintainers of the the official Fedora Linux kernel are involved in the maintenance of these repositories.

For any feedback or questions regarding the kernel vanilla repositories contact Thorsten Leemhuis (aka "knurd").

What’s the goal of these repositories? And are these kernels as good as Fedora’s?

These and many other questions are answered in the FAQ about the Linux kernel vanilla repositories for Fedora Linux.