Kernel 5.10 on Ubuntu 20.04 (or later) (for T2 Apple hardware)

[Kai-Heng Feng]

Hi Will,

On Thu, May 27, 2021 at 2:44 AM Will McGinnis <scph32 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi Krzysztof, Thanks so much for the response.
>
> The Linux on the T2 project issmall (but dedicated!) so out of ease of maintenance, across all distros, only a few kernel versions have been chosen to test the patches for the T2 Apple hardware.
> From the T2 Linux main page: "versions 5.7.19 and 5.11.x, which reached end of life as well as the stable 5.10.x, which will be supported by the Linux maintainers until December 2026.
>
> The purpose/need/goal for using 5.10 would be for my own use but also for other users of the T2 Linux patches with Ubuntu, anyone that wants to.
>
> I definitely see the value in building on the work of the existing Ubuntu kernels whenever possible rather than getting plain vanilla kernel sources, so if there's a sanctioned way to get 5.10.x I would prefer that (for my own use and to recommend to others, once I get it working and test it for a bit)
>
>
> My interest in the OEM kernel is only because it says the specific 5.10.x kernel version that I'm looking for. If the regular linux image generic was 5.10.x then I would be fine using that. But I am reaching out since it's not clear what the best way is to get both 5.10.x and the Ubuntu kernel team patches together.

The OEM kernel is mainly used for enabling latest hardware, so it'll
switch from 5.10 to 5.13 soon.
IIUC, 5.10 will only receive CVE patches once the 5.10 -> 5.13
transition is completed.

So the best way to include the driver in Ubuntu (and in all distros)
is to upstream it.

Kai-Heng

>
> On Wed, May 26, 2021 at 10:57 AM Krzysztof Kozlowski <krzysztof.kozlowski at canonical.com> wrote:
>>
>> On 24/05/2021 20:06, Will McGinnis wrote:
>> > Hi all, there is a particular need for the Linux kernel version 5.10 as
>> > that kernel LTS release has been chosen by the T2 Apple hardware Linux
>> > maintainers.
>> >
>> > I wanted to check in about what the most approved Ubuntu way to get
>> > kernel version 5.10 would be on Ubuntu 20.04 and later, getting the
>> > benefit of the LTS release with the kernel team including the Ubuntu
>> > patches.
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Can you describe more what you mean by "to get kernel version 5.10"?
>> What is the purpose/need/goal? For using it on your machine? For
>> development a derivative? For an OEM-like project? For giving it to
>> other customers/people?
>>
>> >
>> > I see there are linux-image-5.10.0-xxxx-oem packages:
>> > https://packages.ubuntu.com/focal/linux-image-5.10.0-1026-oem
>> > <https://packages.ubuntu.com/focal/linux-image-5.10.0-1026-oem>
>> The OEM kernel is specifically for use in OEM projects, so maybe this
>> matches your need (but depends on answer above). There are several
>> differences in Ubuntu OEM kernel like new drivers, new features and
>> temporary workarounds.
>>
>> If OEM kernel is run on hardware that is not certified by Canonical, we
>> cannot guarantee it works without issues, but there is nothing added
>> that we think will break other hardware.
>>
>> Best regards,
>> Krzysztof
>
> --
> kernel-team mailing list
> kernel-team at lists.ubuntu.com
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/kernel-team