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Run a Distribution-Supplied Kernel with PV-GRUB

Updated Originally authored by Linode
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Deprecated

This guide has been deprecated and is no longer being maintained.

Note
This guide mentions Xen architecture. However, all Linode instances now use KVM architecture. This guide may be updated or replaced in the future; or it may be retained for historical purposes.
Important
This guide is for legacy Xen Linodes. For newer Linodes, consult our How to Change your Linode’s Kernel guide.

PV-GRUB makes it possible to run your own kernel on your Linode, instead of using a host-supplied kernel. This is useful in cases where you’d like to enable specific kernel features, or you’d prefer to handle kernel upgrades directly.

If you’d like to run a custom distro on your Linode in combination with PV-GRUB, please follow our Custom Distro guide before taking these steps.

Before you get started, make sure you follow the steps outlined in our Getting Started guide. Your Linode needs to be in a functional state. These steps should be performed as root on your Linode, via an SSH session.

Ubuntu 13.04 (Raring)

  1. Update your package repositories and upgrade your installed packages by issuing the following commands:

    apt-get update
apt-get upgrade --show-upgraded

  2. Issue the following commands to install the default kernel for Ubuntu 13.04, uninstall grub2, and install grub:

    apt-get install linux-image-virtual
apt-get purge grub2 grub-pc
apt-get install grub
mkdir /boot/grub
update-grub

    When you are asked which devices you would like to install grub on, leave all listed devices unchecked and select Ok to continue. When you are asked whether you would like to continue without installing GRUB, answer yes. When you are asked to confirm removal of GRUB 2 from /boot/grub, answer yes. When you are asked whether you would like a menu.lst file generated for you, answer yes.

  3. Edit the /boot/grub/menu.lst file as follows. As noted in the file, please do not uncomment entries that begin with the # character. First, locate the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    timeout 3

  4. Change it to match the following excerpt. This gives you a bit of additional time at boot to select your desired kernel, in case you feel the need to go back to an older one in the future.

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    timeout 10

  5. Next, locate the line containing kopt that resembles the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    # kopt=root=UUID=de400b9f-2578-488e-8664-250a8455a6fc ro

  6. Change it to match the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    # kopt=root=/dev/xvda console=hvc0 ro quiet

  7. Next, locate the line containing groot that resembles the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    # groot=(hd0,0)

  8. Change it to match the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    # groot=(hd0)

  9. Issue the following command to update grub:

    update-grub

  10. Next, open the file /etc/init/hvc0.conf and verify that it matches the following excerpt:

    File: /etc/init/hvc0.conf
     1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10

    # hvc0 - getty
#
# This service maintains a getty on hvc0 from the point the system is
# started until it is shut down again.

start on stopped rc RUNLEVEL=[2345]
stop on runlevel [!2345]

respawn
exec /sbin/getty -8 38400 hvc0

  11. In the Linode Manager, edit your Linode’s configuration profile to use either pv-grub-x86_32 or pv-grub-x86_64 as the kernel, depending on the version of Ubuntu you have deployed (32-bit or 64-bit).

  12. Make sure the root device is specified as xvda.

  13. In the Filesystem/Boot Helpers section, disable the Distro Helper option.

  14. Save your changes by clicking Save Profile at the bottom of the page.

  15. Reboot your Linode from the Dashboard tab.

  16. Once your Linode has rebooted, log in via SSH and issue the following command:

    uname -a

    You should see output similar to the following, indicating that you’re running the native kernel:

    Linux li63-119 3.8.0-29-generic #42-Ubuntu SMP Tue Aug 13 19:40:39 UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Ubuntu 12.04 (Precise)

  1. Update your package repositories and upgrade your installed packages by issuing the following commands:

    apt-get update
apt-get upgrade --show-upgraded

  2. Issue the following commands to install the default kernel for Ubuntu 12.04, uninstall grub2, and install grub:

    apt-get install linux-virtual
apt-get purge grub2 grub-pc
apt-get install grub
update-grub

    When you are asked which devices you would like to install grub on, leave all listed devices unchecked and select Ok to continue. When you are asked whether you would like to continue without installing GRUB, answer yes. When you are asked to confirm removal of GRUB 2 from /boot/grub, answer yes. When you are asked whether you would like a menu.lst file generated for you, answer yes.

  3. Edit the /boot/grub/menu.lst file as follows. As noted in the file, please do not uncomment entries that begin with the # character. First, locate the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    timeout 3

  4. Edit the file to match the following excerpt. This gives you a bit of additional time at boot to select your desired kernel, in case you feel the need to go back to an older one in the future.

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    timeout 10

  5. Next, locate the line containing kopt that resembles the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    # kopt=root=UUID=de400b9f-2578-488e-8664-250a8455a6fc ro

  6. Edit it to match the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    kopt=root=/dev/xvda console=hvc0 ro quiet

  7. Next, locate the line containing “groot” that resembles the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    # groot=(hd0,0)

  8. Change it to match the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    # groot=(hd0)

  9. Issue the following command to update grub:

    update-grub

  10. Next, open the file “/etc/init/hvc0.conf” and verify that it matches the following excerpt:

    File: /etc/init/hvc0.conf
     1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10

    # hvc0 - getty
#
# This service maintains a getty on hvc0 from the point the system is
# started until it is shut down again.

start on stopped rc RUNLEVEL=[2345]
stop on runlevel [!2345]

respawn
exec /sbin/getty -8 38400 hvc0

  11. In the Linode Manager, edit your Linode’s configuration profile to use either pv-grub-x86_32 or pv-grub-x86_64 as the kernel, depending on the version of Ubuntu you have deployed (32-bit or 64-bit).

  12. Make sure the root device is specified as xvda.

  13. In the Filesystem/Boot Helpers section, disable the Distro Helper option.

  14. Save your changes by clicking Save Profile at the bottom of the page.

  15. Reboot your Linode from the Dashboard tab.

  16. Once your Linode has rebooted, log in via SSH and issue the following command:

    uname -a

    You should see output similar to the following, indicating you’re running the native kernel:

    Linux localhost 3.2.0-52-virtual #78-Ubuntu SMP Fri Jul 26 16:45:00 UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (Lucid)

  1. Update your package repositories and upgrade your installed packages by issuing the following commands:

    apt-get update
apt-get upgrade --show-upgraded

  2. Issue the following commands to install the default kernel for Ubuntu 10.04 LTS, uninstall grub2, and install grub:

    apt-get install linux-virtual
apt-get purge grub2 grub-pc
rm -f /boot/grub/*
apt-get install grub
update-grub

    When you are asked whether you would like to continue without installing GRUB, answer yes. When you are asked to confirm removal of GRUB 2 from /boot/grub, answer yes. When you are asked whether you would like a menu.lst file generated for you, answer yes.

  3. Edit the /boot/grub/menu.lst file as follows. As noted in the file, please do not uncomment entries that begin with the # character. First, locate the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    timeout 3

  4. Edit this line to match the following excerpt. This gives you a bit of additional time at boot to select your desired kernel, in case you feel the need to go back to an older one in the future.

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    timeout 10

  5. Next, locate the line containing kopt that resembles the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    # kopt=root=UUID=de400b9f-2578-488e-8664-250a8455a6fc ro

  6. Change it to match the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    # kopt=root=/dev/xvda console=hvc0 ro quiet

  7. Next, locate the line containing groot that resembles the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    # groot=de400b9f-2578-488e-8664-250a8455a6fc

  8. Change it to match the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    # groot=(hd0)

  9. Issue the following command to update grub:

    update-grub

  10. Create the file /etc/init/hvc0.conf with the following contents:

    File: /etc/init/hvc0.conf
     1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10

    # hvc0 - getty
#
# This service maintains a getty on hvc0 from the point the system is
# started until it is shut down again.

start on stopped rc RUNLEVEL=[2345]
stop on runlevel [!2345]

respawn
exec /sbin/getty -8 38400 hvc0

  11. In the Linode Manager, edit your Linode’s configuration profile to use either pv-grub-x86_32 or pv-grub-x86_64 as the kernel, depending on the version of Ubuntu you have deployed (32-bit or 64-bit).

  12. Make sure the root device is specified as xvda.

  13. In the Filesystem/Boot Helpers section, disable the Distro Helper option.

  14. Save your changes by clicking Save Profile at the bottom of the page.

  15. Reboot your Linode from the Dashboard tab.

  16. Once your Linode has rebooted, log in via SSH and issue the following command:

    uname -a

    You should see output similar to the following, indicating you’re running the native kernel:

    Linux li263-140 2.6.32-31-generic-pae #61-Ubuntu SMP Fri Apr 8 20:00:13 UTC 2011 i686 GNU/Linux

Debian 7 (Wheezy) / Debian 8 (Jessie)

  1. Update your package repositories and upgrade your installed packages by issuing the following commands:

    apt-get update
apt-get upgrade --show-upgraded

  2. Issue the following commands to install the default kernel for Debian 7, along with the grub bootloader package:

    32-bit Debian: :

    apt-get install linux-image-686-pae
mkdir /boot/grub
apt-get install grub-legacy

    64-bit Debian: :

    apt-get install linux-image-amd64
mkdir /boot/grub
apt-get install grub-legacy

  3. Issue the following commands to generate an initial /boot/grub/menu.lst file:

    grub-set-default 1
update-grub

  4. Edit the /boot/grub/menu.lst file as follows. As noted in the file, please do not uncomment entries that begin with the # character. First, locate the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    timeout 5

  5. Change it to match the following excerpt. This gives you a bit of additional time at boot to select your desired kernel, in case you feel the need to go back to an older one in the future.

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    timeout 10

  6. Next, locate the line containing kopt that resembles the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    # kopt=root=UUID=de400b9f-2578-488e-8664-250a8455a6fc ro

  7. Change it to match the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    # kopt=root=/dev/xvda console=hvc0 ro quiet

  8. Next, locate the line containing groot= and verify that it matches the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    # groot=(hd0)

  9. Issue the following command to update grub:

    update-grub

  10. In the Linode Manager, edit your Linode’s configuration profile to use either pv-grub-x86_32 or pv-grub-x86_64 as the kernel, depending on the version of Debian you have deployed (32-bit or 64-bit).

  11. Make sure the root device is specified as xvda.

  12. In the Filesystem/Boot Helpers section, disable the Distro Helper option.

  13. Save your changes by clicking Save Profile at the bottom of the page.

  14. Reboot your Linode from the Dashboard tab.

  15. Once your Linode has rebooted, log in via SSH and issue the following command:

    uname -a

    You should see output similar to the following, indicating you’re running the native kernel:

    Linux li263-140 2.6.32-5-xen-686 #1 SMP Wed May 18 09:43:15 UTC 2011 i686 GNU/Linux

Debian 6 (Squeeze)

  1. Update your package repositories and upgrade your installed packages by issuing the following commands:

    apt-get update
apt-get upgrade --show-upgraded

  2. Issue the following commands to install the default kernel for Debian 6, along with the grub bootloader package:

    32-bit Debian: :

    apt-get install linux-image-xen-686
mkdir /boot/grub
apt-get install grub-legacy

    64-bit Debian: :

    apt-get install linux-image-xen-amd64
mkdir /boot/grub
apt-get install grub-legacy

  3. Issue the following commands to generate an initial /boot/grub/menu.lst file:

    grub-set-default 1
update-grub

  4. Edit the /boot/grub/menu.lst file as follows. As noted in the file, please do not uncomment entries that begin with the # character. First, locate the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    timeout 5

  5. Change it to match the following excerpt. This gives you a bit of additional time at boot to select your desired kernel, in case you feel the need to go back to an older one in the future:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    timeout 10

  6. Next, locate the line containing kopt that resembles the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    # kopt=root=UUID=de400b9f-2578-488e-8664-250a8455a6fc ro

  7. Change it to match the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    # kopt=root=/dev/xvda console=hvc0 ro quiet

  8. Next, locate the line containing groot= and verify that it matches the following excerpt:

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1

    # groot=(hd0)

  9. Issue the following command to update grub:

    update-grub

  10. In the Linode Manager, edit your Linode’s configuration profile to use either pv-grub-x86_32 or pv-grub-x86_64 as the kernel, depending on the version of Debian you have deployed (32-bit or 64-bit).

  11. Make sure the root device is specified as xvda.

  12. In the Filesystem/Boot Helpers section, disable the Distro Helper option.

  13. Save your changes by clicking Save Profile at the bottom of the page.

  14. Reboot your Linode from the Dashboard tab.

  15. Once your Linode has rebooted, log in via SSH and issue the following command:

    uname -a

    You should see output similar to the following, indicating you’re running the native kernel:

    Linux li263-140 2.6.32-5-xen-686 #1 SMP Wed May 18 09:43:15 UTC 2011 i686 GNU/Linux

CentOS 6 and Newer

  1. Make sure your package repositories and installed packages are up to date by issuing the following command:

    yum update

  2. Run the following command to identify the kernel your CentOS system has provided:

    uname -a

  3. This command should provide output similar to that shown below:

    Linux li63-119 2.6.32-358.14.1.el6.x86_64 #1 SMP Tue Jul 16 23:51:20 UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

  4. Make a note of the kernel you’re currently using (2.6.32-358.14.1.el6.x86_64 in our example). You are replacing it with the kernel shown in the configuration below.

  5. Issue the following command to install the default kernel for CentOS6:

    32-bit CentOS: :

    yum install kernel-PAE.i686

    64-bit CentOS: :

    yum install kernel.x86_64

  6. Create a file named /boot/grub/menu.lst with the following contents. Adjust the title, kernel, and initrd lines to reflect the actual file names found in the /boot/ directory.

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1
2
3
4
5

    timeout 5
title CentOS (2.6.32-431.23.3.el6.x86_64)
    root (hd0)
    kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-431.23.3.el6.x86_64 root=/dev/xvda
    initrd /boot/initramfs-2.6.32-431.23.3.el6.x86_64.img

  7. In the Linode Manager, edit your Linode’s configuration profile to use either pv-grub-x86_32 or pv-grub-x86_64 as the Kernel, depending on the version of CentOS you have deployed (32-bit or 64-bit).

  8. Make sure the root device is specified as xvda.

  9. Save your changes by clicking Save Profile at the bottom of the page.

  10. Reboot your Linode from the Dashboard tab.

  11. Once your Linode has rebooted, log in via SSH and issue the following command:

    uname -a

    You should see output similar to the following, indicating you’re running the native kernel:

    Linux li63-119 2.6.32-358.14.1.el6.x86_64 #1 SMP Tue Jul 16 23:51:20 UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

CentOS 5

Warren Togami was kind enough to provide a script to automate getting a native CentOS 5 kernel up and running, including with SELinux support. We use this script in the following instructions.

  1. Issue the following commands as root to retrieve and run the script:

    wget -O selinux.sh http://www.linode.com/docs/assets/542-centos5-native-kernel-selinux-enforcing.sh
chmod +x selinux.sh
./selinux.sh

  2. Once the script has finished, edit your Linode’s configuration profile. Change the Kernel to pv-grub-x86_32 or pv-grub-x86_64, depending on which version of CentOS (32-bit or 64-bit) you’re running.

  3. Set the Distro Helper and Automount devtmpfs options to No.

  4. Click the Save Changes button.

  5. Reboot your Linode from the Dashboard tab.

  6. Once your Linode has rebooted, log in via SSH and issue the following command:

    restorecon -Rv /

  7. Your Linode should now be running a native CentOS 5 kernel. You can verify this by issuing the following command:

    uname -a

    You should see output similar to the following:

    Linux li181-194 2.6.18-194.26.1.el5xen #1 SMP Tue Nov 9 14:13:46 EST 2010 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

Fedora 17

  1. Make sure your package repositories and installed packages are up to date by issuing the following command:

    yum update

  2. Issue the following command to install the default kernel for Fedora 13:

    32-bit Fedora: :

    yum install kernel-PAE.i686

    64-bit Fedora: :

    yum install kernel.x86_64

  3. Create a file named /boot/grub/menu.lst with the following contents. Adjust the title, kernel, and initrd lines to reflect the actual file names found in the /boot/ directory.

    File: /boot/grub/menu.lst
    1
2
3

    timeout 5

title Fedora 17, kernel 3.9.10-100.fc17.x86\_64 root (hd0) kernel /boot/vmlinuz-3.9.10-100.fc17.x86\_64 root=/dev/xvda ro quiet initrd /boot/initramfs-3.9.10-100.fc17.x86\_64.img

  4. In the Linode Manager, edit your Linode’s configuration profile to use either pv-grub-x86_32 or pv-grub-x86_64 as the Kernel, depending on the version of Fedora you have deployed (32-bit or 64-bit).

  5. Make sure the root device is specified as xvda.

  6. Save your changes by clicking Save Profile at the bottom of the page.

  7. Reboot your Linode from the Dashboard tab.

  8. Once your Linode has rebooted, log in via SSH and issue the following command:

    uname -a

    You should see output similar to the following, indicating you’re running the native kernel:

    Linux li63-119 3.9.10-100.fc17.x86_64 #1 SMP Sun Jul 14 01:31:27 UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Note that if you later install an updated kernel, you need to add an entry for it to your menu.lst file. By default, the first kernel in the list is booted.

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