[SOLVED] Latest Slackware64 -15.0/isolinux initrd.img when booted with kernel 5.15.145 shows no modules

allend · 01-09-2024, 06:43 AM

I am scratching my head here.

I find it convenient to maintain a small partition dedicated to booting into the Slackware installer.
I have had this working with the initrd.img supplied with the vmlinuz-huge-5.15.19 kernel.

I just tried updating to using the initrd.img supplied with the vmlinuz-huge-5.15.145. It boots without problem, but my USB keyboard was not recognised, forcing me to use the laptop keyboard. If I run 'lsmod', I see no output.

I do not know when the behaviour changed between the kernel versions. Apparently the slackware.uk cumulative archive does not track the isolinux directory changes.

Just wanted to report my experience, as it may affect anybody building an ISO to install Slackware64.

GazL · 01-09-2024, 07:08 AM

When I used to do that I'd just stick with the shipped pair of:
slackware64-15.0/kernels/huge.s/bzImage
slackware64-15.0/isolinux/initrd.img
... and never tried to update them.

But, I haven't done any of this since the lilo days. Not even sure how efi and isolinux/efiboot.img fit into the scenario these days.

Windu · 01-09-2024, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allend

I just tried updating to using the initrd.img supplied with the vmlinuz-huge-5.15.145.

That 5.15.145 kernel is an update to Slackware 15.0, it is found in ./patches/packages/ . These update kernel packages do not come with a separate initrd. The initrd you find in ./isolinux/ is meant to be used with the Slackware 15.0 boot kernel which is still the original 5.15.19. The initrd contains the modules for just that 5.15.19 kernel.

allend · 01-09-2024, 07:43 AM

Quote:

That 5.15.145 kernel is an update to Slackware 15.0, it is found in ./patches/packages/ . These update kernel packages do not come with a separate initrd. The initrd you find in ./isolinux/ is meant to be used with the Slackware 15.0 boot kernel which is still the original 5.15.19. The initrd contains the modules for just that 5.15.19 kernel.

Ahh! Thanks for that.

henca · 01-09-2024, 01:43 PM

As I customize the installation media I have also updated the kernel to 5.15.145, but that did require a replacement of all the kernel modules in isolinux/initrd.img. When I did this, I started by installing all kernel modules for 5.15.145 and then manually removed most of the modules not present in previous kernel. However, maybe it would have been faster to use some script in source/installer/

regards Henrik

rkelsen · 01-10-2024, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allend

I find it convenient to maintain a small partition dedicated to booting into the Slackware installer.

I do exactly the same thing, except that I don't use a dedicated partition... I copy the kernel & initrd.img to the EFI System partition.

I've not tried 'slipstreaming' all of the security patches into the installation iso, but it is probably not a difficult exercise. For me, the first step with a new installation is always 'slackpkg update' anyway, so maybe it's not worth spending the time on.

allend · 01-11-2024, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkelsen

I do exactly the same thing, except that I don't use a dedicated partition... I copy the kernel & initrd.img to the EFI System partition.

I've not tried 'slipstreaming' all of the security patches into the installation iso, but it is probably not a difficult exercise. For me, the first step with a new installation is always 'slackpkg update' anyway, so maybe it's not worth spending the time on.

Nice to know it works with UEFI systems.

I did report on patching the installer to prefer packages from patches when using the ”Install from FTP/HTTP server” option.