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LibraZiK-4 manual - The kernels

Foreword

The kernel represents the nerve center or the backbone of your system.

On LibraZiK-4, you can use different kernels which we will categorize into three types here:

  • “basic” kernel
  • “low-latency” kernel
  • “real-time” kernel

The different types of kernels at LibraZiK-4

Basic kernel

The “basic” linux kernel is a “basic” kernel. On LibraZiK-4, the “basic” kernels are provided directly by Debian.

These “basic” kernels are not meant to be efficient in terms of audio production (although they may be sufficient depending on the audio production task performed). LibraZiK-4 therefore provides two other types of kernels which we will see below.

Low-latency kernel

The low-latency (bl 1)) linux kernels provided by LibraZiK-4 are designed to have low latency for digital audio work. These are the ones you will want to use in the vast majority of cases for a digital audio production context.

Real-time kernel

The “real-time” (rt) linux kernels are even more optimized for low latency. However, they may have compatibility problems with some graphics card drivers.

Debian provides some, and LibraZiK-4 also provides some. The differences between the two are that the LibraZiK-4 RT kernels use certain kernel compiler options that make them more suitable for audio production than the Debian RT kernels. See below.

Note that in 95% of the cases, you don't need a “real-time” kernel, the low-latency kernel being more than enough. The problem here is to say that “oh well yes, but me I am part of the 5% who need it”. No. You are certainly not that special. Sorry to tell you so dryly here :-D . Use a low-latency_kernel, it will be more than enough and you'll avoid other worries.

You should only use an RT if you really and seriously know why you need it, and not because you read a page from 2008 on the web that says “no audio production possible under linux without a RT kernel” because things have changed a lot. If you try one, it's at your own risk! :-)

It should be noted that only “normal” and “RT” kernels coming directly from the Debian repositories are permanently maintained (by Debian so). That is to say that they benefit from patches of the faults among others of security.

Given the huge amount of work it takes to track, update and package a kernel permanently, LibraZiK-4 does not guarantee that kernels are permanently up to date for the time being.

The different kernels at LibraZiK-4

The different kernels proposed by LibraZiK-4 are:

64-bit kernels names in Synaptic 32-bit kernels names in Synaptic Notes
regulars PAE
basic linux-image-5.10.0-26-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-26-686 linux-image-5.10.0-26-686-pae Debian kernel, not configured for audio production
low-latency LZK linux-image-5.10.0-26-lzk-bl-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-26-lzk-bl-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-26-lzk-bl-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, BL and configured for MAO, RECOMMENDED kernel by LibraZiK
real-time linux-image-5.10.0-26-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-26-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-26-rt-686-pae Debian kernel, RT but not configured for audio production
real-time LZK linux-image-5.10.0-26-lzk-rt-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-26-lzk-rt-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-26-lzk-rt-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, RT and configured for audio production
.
Older kernels
basic linux-image-5.10.0-25-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-25-686 linux-image-5.10.0-25-686-pae Debian kernel, not configured for audio production
low-latency LZK linux-image-5.10.0-25-lzk-bl-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-25-lzk-bl-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-25-lzk-bl-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, BL and configured for audio production
real-time linux-image-5.10.0-25-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-25-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-25-rt-686-pae Debian kernel, RT but not configured for audio production
real-time LZK linux-image-5.10.0-25-lzk-rt-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-25-lzk-rt-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-25-lzk-rt-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, RT and configured for audio production
basic linux-image-5.10.0-23-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-23-686 linux-image-5.10.0-23-686-pae Debian kernel, not configured for audio production
low-latency LZK linux-image-5.10.0-23-lzk-bl-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-23-lzk-bl-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-23-lzk-bl-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, BL and configured for audio production
real-time linux-image-5.10.0-23-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-23-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-23-rt-686-pae Debian kernel, RT but not configured for audio production
real-time LZK linux-image-5.10.0-23-lzk-rt-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-23-lzk-rt-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-23-lzk-rt-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, RT and configured for audio production
basic linux-image-5.10.0-22-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-22-686 linux-image-5.10.0-22-686-pae Debian kernel, not configured for audio production
low-latency LZK linux-image-5.10.0-22-lzk-bl-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-22-lzk-bl-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-22-lzk-bl-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, BL and configured for audio production
real-time linux-image-5.10.0-22-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-22-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-22-rt-686-pae Debian kernel, RT but not configured for audio production
real-time LZK linux-image-5.10.0-22-lzk-rt-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-22-lzk-rt-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-22-lzk-rt-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, RT and configured for audio production
basic linux-image-5.10.0-20-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-20-686 linux-image-5.10.0-20-686-pae Debian kernel, not configured for audio production
low-latency LZK linux-image-5.10.0-20-lzk-bl-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-20-lzk-bl-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-20-lzk-bl-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, BL and configured for MAO
real-time linux-image-5.10.0-20-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-20-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-20-rt-686-pae Debian kernel, RT but not configured for audio production
real-time LZK linux-image-5.10.0-20-lzk-rt-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-20-lzk-rt-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-20-lzk-rt-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, RT and configured for audio production
basic linux-image-5.10.0-18-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-18-686 linux-image-5.10.0-18-686-pae Debian kernel, not configured for audio production
low-latency LZK linux-image-5.10.0-18-lzk-bl-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-18-lzk-bl-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-18-lzk-bl-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, BL and configured for MAO
real-time linux-image-5.10.0-18-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-18-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-18-rt-686-pae Debian kernel, RT but not configured for audio production
real-time LZK linux-image-5.10.0-18-lzk-rt-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-18-lzk-rt-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-18-lzk-rt-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, RT and configured for audio production
basic linux-image-5.10.0-14-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-14-686 linux-image-5.10.0-14-686-pae Debian kernel, not configured for audio production
low-latency LZK linux-image-5.10.0-14-lzk-bl-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-14-lzk-bl-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-14-lzk-bl-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, BL and configured for MAO
real-time linux-image-5.10.0-14-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-14-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-14-rt-686-pae Debian kernel, RT but not configured for audio production
real-time LZK linux-image-5.10.0-14-lzk-rt-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-14-lzk-rt-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-14-lzk-rt-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, RT and configured for audio production
basic linux-image-5.10.0-13-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-13-686 linux-image-5.10.0-13-686-pae Debian kernel, not configured for audio production
low-latency LZK linux-image-5.10.0-13-lzk-bl-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-13-lzk-bl-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-13-lzk-bl-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, BL and configured for MAO
real-time linux-image-5.10.0-13-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-13-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-13-rt-686-pae Debian kernel, RT but not configured for audio production
real-time LZK linux-image-5.10.0-13-lzk-rt-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-13-lzk-rt-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-13-lzk-rt-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, RT and configured for audio production
basic linux-image-5.10.0-11-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-11-686 linux-image-5.10.0-11-686-pae Debian kernel, not configured for audio production
low-latency LZK linux-image-5.10.0-11-lzk-bl-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-11-lzk-bl-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-11-lzk-bl-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, BL and configured for MAO
real-time linux-image-5.10.0-11-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-11-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-11-rt-686-pae Debian kernel, RT but not configured for audio production
real-time LZK linux-image-5.10.0-11-lzk-rt-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-11-lzk-rt-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-11-lzk-rt-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, RT and configured for audio production
basic linux-image-5.10.0-10-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-10-686 linux-image-5.10.0-10-686-pae Debian kernel, not configured for audio production
low-latency LZK linux-image-5.10.0-10-lzk-bl-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-10-lzk-bl-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-10-lzk-bl-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, BL and configured for MAO
real-time linux-image-5.10.0-10-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-10-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-10-rt-686-pae Debian kernel, RT but not configured for audio production
real-time LZK linux-image-5.10.0-10-lzk-rt-amd64-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-10-lzk-rt-686-unsigned linux-image-5.10.0-10-lzk-rt-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, RT and configured for audio production
basic linux-image-5.10.0-8-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-8-686 linux-image-5.10.0-8-686-pae Debian kernel, not configured for audio production
low-latency LZK linux-image-5.10.0-8-lzk-bl-amd64-unsigned - linux-image-5.10.0-8-lzk-bl-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, BL and configured for MAO
real-time linux-image-5.10.0-8-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-8-rt-amd64 linux-image-5.10.0-8-rt-686-pae Debian kernel, RT but not configured for audio production
real-time LZK linux-image-5.10.0-8-lzk-rt-amd64-unsigned - linux-image-5.10.0-8-lzk-rt-686-pae-unsigned kernel from LibraZiK, RT and configured for audio production
.
The “BL” and “RT” kernels from LibraZiK-4 are manufactured using configuration options that make them more powerful for audio production than non-LibraZiK-4 “RT” or “regular” kernels.

For those in the know, these options are :
  • CONFIG_HZ_1000=y : to allow some MIDI software to work better
  • CONFIG_LATENCYTOP activé : allows the use of the latencytop utility
  • with support for USB audio interfaces “Emagic Audiowerk 2”
  • support of ALSA modules for all available firewire interfaces
  • for the “BL” kernels : CONFIG_PREEMPT=y : to have a low-latency kernel
  • for the “RT” kernels : CONFIG_PREEMPT=y , CONFIG_PREEMPT_RT_BASE=y , CONFIG_HAVE_PREEMPT_LAZY=y , CONFIG_PREEMPT_LAZY=y , et CONFIG_PREEMPT_RT_FULL=y to have a real-time kernel
  • for the 32-bit kernels: with support for “C-Media CMI8328” ISA audio interfaces

Choose a 64-bit or a 32-bit kernel?

This will depend on the system installed. If your system is a 32-bit system, then you will install a 32-bit kernel (686). If your system is a 64-bit system then you will install a 64-bit system (amd64). Please note that Synaptic will only offer you the kernels that your system can use anyway.

Read more about this subject : the FAQ.

Choose a "regular" 32-bit (non-PAE) kernel or a "PAE"?

These 2 types of kernels are intended for 32-bit machines.

  • The “non-PAE” 32-bit kernels are limited to a maximum of 3.2G of RAM.
  • The “PAE” 32-bit kernels can handle over 3.2G of RAM.

You can use a PAE kernel even on a system with less than 3.2G of RAM.

The non-PAE kernels are 1 or 2% faster than PAE kernels, so there is not much difference. the non-PAE kernels may improve the performance of old 32-bit machines with less than 3.2G of RAM (by 1 or 2%), but will not have much impact in most cases.

For 32-bit systems, LibraZiK-4 recommends using a PAE kernel (except in very precise and specific cases).

Installing a kernel

On LibraZiK-4, the kernels do not update automatically because it is an operation that you must control.

A kernel is installed like any other software thanks to the Synaptic package manager. See for that the tutorial : install a software with your Synaptic package manager. The packages to install are the “linux-image-xxxx” packages 2) .

Note that for a new kernel to be used, the machine must be rebooted.

Updating a kernel

The kernels from LibraZiK-4 are not updated automatically. You have to ask specifically for their installation with Synaptic.

Checks

  • To know the version of the kernel currently in use, in a terminal : uname -a.
  • What kernels are currently installed: search for “linux-image” in Synaptic.

Tutorials

PageDescriptionTags
Starting LibraZiK-4various notes concerning the start-up of LibraZiK-4, , ,
Démarrer LibraZiK-4diverses notes concernant le démarrage de LibraZiK-4, , ,
faire le ménage dans ses noyauxComment faire le ménage et supprimer certains de ses (vieux) noyaux ?, , ,
Gestion des modules du noyau au démarrage"blacklister" ou "forcer" un module du noyau, , , ,
1)
because BL stands for “Basse Latence” which means “Low Latency” in French
2)
not to be confused with the “linux-headers-xxxx” packages which you don't need unless you do some developments
en/manuel/noyau.txt · Last modified: 22/09/2024 17:54 by trebmuh