New user, trying to update my kernel, HELP!

[bkost]

I'm trying to get Debian to run on a Chromebook instead of Chrome OS. I'm not very experienced with any Linux distribution, but I've used Debian more than others so I figured it'd be the best way to go. From what I've read about Debian on these machines, I need to update to the latest kernel for it to support my touchpad, 3.14 I believe.

I was following this guide:
http://pevma.blogspot.com/2014/04/upgrading-debian-wheezys-kernel.html

But unfortunately I hit a snag on this line:

tar xvfJ linux-3.14.tar.xz -C /usr/src

No matter what I do I get, "Cannot open: No such file or directory," what am I doing wrong?

 

[skittle]

For the Chromebooks highly suggest using kernel 3.17+ as it has fixes for backlight, touchpad... Not in 3.14.. Latest from kernel.org is 3.17rc4.

As for the untar command: does the directory '/usr/src' already exist? If not you need to create or first.

Or you can just ommit the '-C /usr/src' and tar will extract to the current directory you are in. I usually do this route so my /usr folder doesn't fill up.

BTW building kernel will take a lot of time. It may be easier to use plain kernel packages from Debian "unstable" branch. (though 3.17 is not included yet, only 3.16)

https://wiki.debian.org/HowToUpgradeKernel

I use ArchLinux with 3.17 kernel on my c720 with latest john lewis firmware and everything works great.

 

[Ijack]

The filename should immediately follow the "f" switch. Try

tar xvJf linux-3.14.tar.xz -C /usr/src

In fact, I'm not sure that you need the "J" switch at all with recent versions of tar.

 

[bkost]

For the Chromebooks highly suggest using kernel 3.17+ as it has fixes for backlight, touchpad... Not in 3.14.. Latest from kernel.org is 3.17rc4.

As for the untar command: does the directory '/usr/src' already exist? If not you need to create or first.

Or you can just commit the '-C /usr/src' and tar will extract to the current directory you are in. I usually do this route so my /usr folder doesn't fill up.

BTW building kernel will take a lot of time. It may be easier to use plain kernel packages from Debian "unstable" branch. (though 3.17 is not included yet, only 3.16)

https://wiki.debian.org/HowToUpgradeKernel

I use ArchLinux with 3.17 kernel on my c720 with latest john lewis firmware and everything works great.

Much appreciated, I thought the guide was telling me to extract the archive to /usr/src/ because it was necessary. I still don't understand why it didn't work though, I verified that the directory exists. Oh well, I just extracted it to my home directory. Also thanks for letting me know to use 3.17 instead of 3.14, that saved me a lot of time. I'm building the kernel right now, I think I'm gonna go take a nap.

 

[skittle]

Yes specifically these commits made in the last month:
https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/log/?qt=grep&q=chromebook
https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=58d08e3b2c2033354b91467da33deffa06360c28

The latter adds support for touchpad

BTW there are ways to speed up kernel compilation like "make localmodconfig" and "make -j" and compiling on tmpfs instead of disk..

Also also check out the alternative coreboot firmware provided by John Lewis
https://johnlewis.ie

 

[Alabalcho]

@BKost - upgrading kernels on Chromebook running Chrubuntu (I suppose this iswhat you've installed) is not as easy as on general x86 computer. On Chromebook, there is no /boot folder, and the kernel is loaded from one of the partitions, not from a file. There are many tutorials specifically for building and upgrading the kernel on Chromebook, and you will be much safer booting Chrubuntu off a USB key / SD card (if supported).

If your Chrubuntu installation is on the standard 16gb disk most of Chromebooks come with, you will run out of disk space trying to compile the kernel on the Chromebook itself (and it will take a lot of time). You will be better served with standard standalone Linux desktop / virtual machine, where it will be much easier, faster and safer to play with kernels.

 

[skittle]

@BKost - upgrading kernels on Chromebook running Chrubuntu (I suppose this iswhat you've installed) is not as easy as on general x86 computer. On Chromebook, there is no /boot folder, and the kernel is loaded from one of the partitions, not from a file. There are many tutorials specifically for building and upgrading the kernel on Chromebook, and you will be much safer booting Chrubuntu off a USB key / SD card (if supported).

If your Chrubuntu installation is on the standard 16gb disk most of Chromebooks come with, you will run out of disk space trying to compile the kernel on the Chromebook itself (and it will take a lot of time). You will be better served with standard standalone Linux desktop / virtual machine, where it will be much easier, faster and safer to play with kernels.

OP is replacing ChromeOS with Debian. No chrubuntu/cruton involved. Thus the need to run updated kernel.