Kernel features missing/disabled ?

BloodRagg · 05-13-2019, 03:31 AM

So,

I've been playing a bit with the Kobo kernel, running through the config I found that
the original is compiled without 'netfilter' needed for a firewall.

Are there any other features missing that one would find in a common default kernel ?

EDIT: Summary missing features:

netfilter - needed for firewall
device mapper/crypt support - needed for encryption
usb-otg
multi-touch
kexec - needed to boot other kernels
nfs server
cifs client/server

NiLuJe · 05-13-2019, 11:31 AM

Cue the hordes of people screaming "USB OTG" in three, two, one, ...

.

Another old topic would be multi-touch on some older devices, too.

rtiangha · 05-13-2019, 05:53 PM

So question: Does Kobo actually update or patch their kernels for either newer versions of drivers or security fixes, or is it using an ancient kernel released years ago? I looked on their github account, but the kernel stuff hasn't been touched in years. Part of me is tempted to see if I can compile some of those missing driver modules, although if I was to go that far, I'd like to see if I could use a more recent version (or the final version) of whatever kernel branch they're using.

NiLuJe · 05-13-2019, 06:49 PM

They (rarely) update the kernels. No meaningful version bumps, ever, though (i.e., they stick to the FreeScale/NXP release for the matching SoC). And the sources currently available often match what was released at the time, and not what's currently shipped.

lumpynose · 05-13-2019, 07:03 PM

I wonder which companies that sell devices based on Linux regularly update their kernels. Android runs on Linux; anyone know if Google updates the kernel? In the business world the old mantra "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" usually applies.

NiLuJe · 05-13-2019, 09:00 PM

Amazon does?

. Well, at least there's active work being done on the Kindle kernels long after release.

BloodRagg · 05-14-2019, 08:14 AM

Geez, I walk away for a bit .... and nobody bothered to tell about the town meating

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiLuJe

Cue the hordes of people screaming "USB OTG" in three, two, one, ...

.

Another old topic would be multi-touch on some older devices, too.

Ordered one today, that would be nice for all those device without an sd card.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtiangha

So question: Does Kobo actually update or patch their kernels for either newer versions of drivers or security fixes, or is it using an ancient kernel released years ago? I looked on their github account, but the kernel stuff hasn't been touched in years. Part of me is tempted to see if I can compile some of those missing driver modules, although if I was to go that far, I'd like to see if I could use a more recent version (or the final version) of whatever kernel branch they're using.

Only if they are forced to do so, mine came with 2.6.18, its on 2.6.35.3 now.
My guess they stop once its stable, no security patches afaict.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiLuJe

They (rarely) update the kernels. No meaningful version bumps, ever, though (i.e., they stick to the FreeScale/NXP release for the matching SoC). And the sources currently available often match what was released at the time, and not what's currently shipped.

NXP has no obligation and Kobo says, well we order from NXP. Problem solved

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumpynose

I wonder which companies that sell devices based on Linux regularly update their kernels. Android runs on Linux; anyone know if Google updates the kernel? In the business world the old mantra "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" usually applies.

None, you can only come by them if someone is willing to maintain it like GKH offered.
But i guess national security thought it to be a bad idea. "you mean we cant get in anymore?"

jgneff · 05-14-2019, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtiangha

So question: Does Kobo actually update or patch their kernels for either newer versions of drivers or security fixes, or is it using an ancient kernel released years ago? I looked on their github account, but the kernel stuff hasn't been touched in years.

They seem to use a recent kernel on the latest models, but I don't have one to verify on an actual device. Looking at their GitHub Kobo-Reader repository, I see the following:

Mark 3: Linux kernel 2.6.36.3
Mark 4: Linux kernel 2.6.36.3
Mark 6: Linux kernel 3.0.35
Mark 7: Linux kernel 4.1.15

The easiest way to find the kernel versions is to unpack all of the kernel archives under the hw directory:

Code:

eb600em/linux-kernel-20100723.tgz
imx357/kobo2-linux-2.6.28_20110124_R1263r1263.tgz
imx507/linux-2.6.35.3.tar.bz2
imx507-aura/linux-2.6.35.3.bz2
imx507-aurah2o/linux-2.6.35.3.tar.bz2
imx507-aurahd/linux-2.6.35.3.tar.gz
imx508/cls/linux-2.6.35.3.tar.gz
imx508/ntx/linux-2.6.35.3.tar.gz
imx6sl-aurah2o/kernel.tar.bz2
imx6sl-auraonetwo/kernel.tar.bz2
imx6sl-glohd/kernel.tar.bz2
imx6sll-aurah2o2-aura/kernel.tar.bz2
imx6sll-clara/kernel.tar.bz2
imx6sll-forma/kernel.tar.bz2
m166e/linux-2.6.28.tgz
sw/linux-kernel-2.6.24-sw.tgz

and look at the beginning of all the Makefiles:

Code:

eb600em/kernel/Makefile
imx357/kobo2-linux-2.6.28/Makefile
imx507/linux-2.6.35.3/Makefile
imx507-aura/linux-2.6.35.3/Makefile
imx507-aurah2o/linux-2.6.35.3/Makefile
imx507-aurahd/linux-2.6.35.3/Makefile
imx508/cls/Makefile
imx508/ntx/linux-2.6.35.3/Makefile
imx6sl-aurah2o/Makefile
imx6sl-auraonetwo/Makefile
imx6sl-glohd/kernel_imx/Makefile
imx6sll-aurah2o2-aura/Makefile
imx6sll-clara/Makefile
imx6sll-forma/Makefile
m166e/linux-2.6.28/Makefile
sw/linux-kernel-2.6.24-sw/Makefile

For example:

Code:

$ head imx6sll-clara/Makefile
VERSION = 4
PATCHLEVEL = 1
SUBLEVEL = 15
EXTRAVERSION =
...

NiLuJe · 05-14-2019, 04:57 PM

Yep, i.MX6SLL devices are running on 4.1.15

A Forma on FW 4.14:

Code:

Linux (none) 4.1.15-00280-g3c80cbc #75 SMP PREEMPT Thu Feb 14 09:20:03 CST 2019 armv7l GNU/Linux

This is also the same kernel release used by Amazon on their own i.MX6SLL/i.MX7D devices (PW4, KT3; KOA2). Which probably tells me they're both based on NXP's.
Bonus points if you can suss out where NXP's hiding those sources. A (very) quick search led me to old FreeScale branches, but nothing new...

rtiangha · 05-14-2019, 05:19 PM

All I could find with a quick search was this:

https://source.codeaurora.org/extern...imx/refs/heads

Is there anything useful there?

DNSB · 05-14-2019, 10:26 PM

The last time I went looking, I found some stuff on NXP's site but downloading anything required registration/login to download. Taking a quick look back at the bookmark shows registration/login is still needed but it does mention 4.1.5 for the iMX6SLL.

IMXLINUX: Embedded Linux for i.MX Applications Processors

Don't know how much use this will be since I never downloaded anything but good luck!

NiLuJe · 05-15-2019, 01:17 AM

Oh, right, CodeAurora ;o). That one might be relevant, for i.MX6SLL, at least.

BloodRagg · 05-15-2019, 09:03 AM

device mapper support is not enabled, so encryption is not going to work.

the more i find out about this kernel, the unhappier i become.

desterly · 05-15-2019, 03:59 PM

I don't think they are using CA unless they are making massive changes:

rel_imx_4.1.15_2.1.0_ga is the new best match with 91726 lines changed

I'm checking FreeScale and mainstream....

davidfor · 05-15-2019, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BloodRagg

device mapper support is not enabled, so encryption is not going to work.

the more i find out about this kernel, the unhappier i become.

For my curiosity, why? Does the device not do what it is supposed to do? Are the things you are talking about actually going to make the device better at what it is designed to do? What it is sold to do?

05-13-2019, 03:31 AM	#1
BloodRagg Zealot Posts: 128 Karma: 842196 Join Date: Feb 2019 Device: none	Kernel features missing/disabled ? So, I've been playing a bit with the Kobo kernel, running through the config I found that the original is compiled without 'netfilter' needed for a firewall. Are there any other features missing that one would find in a common default kernel ? EDIT: Summary missing features: netfilter - needed for firewall device mapper/crypt support - needed for encryption usb-otg multi-touch kexec - needed to boot other kernels nfs server cifs client/server Last edited by BloodRagg; 05-16-2019 at 01:06 AM.

05-13-2019, 11:31 AM	#2
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047202 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	Cue the hordes of people screaming "USB OTG" in three, two, one, ... . Another old topic would be multi-touch on some older devices, too. Last edited by NiLuJe; 05-13-2019 at 12:57 PM.

05-14-2019, 04:57 PM	#9
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047202 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	Yep, i.MX6SLL devices are running on 4.1.15 A Forma on FW 4.14: Code: Linux (none) 4.1.15-00280-g3c80cbc #75 SMP PREEMPT Thu Feb 14 09:20:03 CST 2019 armv7l GNU/Linux This is also the same kernel release used by Amazon on their own i.MX6SLL/i.MX7D devices (PW4, KT3; KOA2). Which probably tells me they're both based on NXP's. Bonus points if you can suss out where NXP's hiding those sources. A (very) quick search led me to old FreeScale branches, but nothing new... Last edited by NiLuJe; 05-14-2019 at 05:01 PM.

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05-13-2019, 05:53 PM	#3
rtiangha Evangelist Posts: 495 Karma: 356531 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: 'burta, Canada Device: Kobo Glo HD	So question: Does Kobo actually update or patch their kernels for either newer versions of drivers or security fixes, or is it using an ancient kernel released years ago? I looked on their github account, but the kernel stuff hasn't been touched in years. Part of me is tempted to see if I can compile some of those missing driver modules, although if I was to go that far, I'd like to see if I could use a more recent version (or the final version) of whatever kernel branch they're using.

05-13-2019, 06:49 PM	#4
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047202 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	They (rarely) update the kernels. No meaningful version bumps, ever, though (i.e., they stick to the FreeScale/NXP release for the matching SoC). And the sources currently available often match what was released at the time, and not what's currently shipped.

05-13-2019, 07:03 PM	#5
lumpynose Wizard Posts: 1,086 Karma: 6719822 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Palm Pilot M105	I wonder which companies that sell devices based on Linux regularly update their kernels. Android runs on Linux; anyone know if Google updates the kernel? In the business world the old mantra "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" usually applies.

05-13-2019, 09:00 PM	#6
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047202 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	Amazon does? . Well, at least there's active work being done on the Kindle kernels long after release.

05-14-2019, 05:19 PM	#10
rtiangha Evangelist Posts: 495 Karma: 356531 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: 'burta, Canada Device: Kobo Glo HD	All I could find with a quick search was this: https://source.codeaurora.org/extern...imx/refs/heads Is there anything useful there?

05-14-2019, 10:26 PM	#11
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 45,936 Karma: 168959602 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	The last time I went looking, I found some stuff on NXP's site but downloading anything required registration/login to download. Taking a quick look back at the bookmark shows registration/login is still needed but it does mention 4.1.5 for the iMX6SLL. IMXLINUX: Embedded Linux for i.MX Applications Processors Don't know how much use this will be since I never downloaded anything but good luck!

05-15-2019, 01:17 AM	#12
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047202 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	Oh, right, CodeAurora ;o). That one might be relevant, for i.MX6SLL, at least.

05-15-2019, 09:03 AM	#13
BloodRagg Zealot Posts: 128 Karma: 842196 Join Date: Feb 2019 Device: none	device mapper support is not enabled, so encryption is not going to work. the more i find out about this kernel, the unhappier i become.

05-15-2019, 03:59 PM	#14
desterly Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 139260 Join Date: Dec 2016 Device: KV, Forma, Libra Colour	I don't think they are using CA unless they are making massive changes: rel_imx_4.1.15_2.1.0_ga is the new best match with 91726 lines changed I'm checking FreeScale and mainstream....

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