Debian ixgbe module compilation

ixgbe_debian.md

Debian ixgbe module compilation

Some OVH dedicated server does not supports installing Debian original kernel due to hardware support issue.

Most common issue is the network adapter card.

Resources

• Intel ixgbe linux drivers : https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/14687
• DKMS howto : http://www.xkyle.com/building-linux-packages-for-kernel-drivers/

Install stable debian kernel

apt-get install -y linux-image-amd64 linux-headers-amd64 make gcc
mv /etc/grub.d/06_OVHkernel /etc/grub.d/25_OVHkernel
update-grub

Install ixgbe module with DKMS support

Download and decompress ixgbe :

cd /usr/src
wget "https://downloadmirror.intel.com/14687/eng/ixgbe-5.3.4.tar.gz"
tar xf ixgbe-5.3.4.tar.gz
cd ixgbe-5.3.4

Install dkms requirements :

apt-get install debhelper dkms

Create /usr/src/ixgbe-5.0.4/dkms.conf file the following content :

MAKE="BUILD_KERNEL=${kernelver} make -C src/ CFLAGS_EXTRA=-DIXGBE_NO_LRO KERNELDIR=/lib/modules/${kernelver}/build"
CLEAN="make -C src/ clean"
BUILT_MODULE_NAME=ixgbe
BUILT_MODULE_LOCATION=src/
DEST_MODULE_LOCATION="/updates"
PACKAGE_NAME=ixgbe-dkms
PACKAGE_VERSION=5.3.4
REMAKE_INITRD=no

Note: LRO is disabled using make extra flags.

Register module with dkms :

dkms add -m ixgbe -v 5.3.4

Build module with dkms :

dkms build -m ixgbe -v 5.3.4 -k 3.16.0-5-amd64

Make Debian source package :

dkms mkdsc -m ixgbe -v 5.3.4 -k 3.16.0-5-amd64 --source-only

Make Debian binary package :

dkms mkdeb -m ixgbe -v 5.3.4 -k 3.16.0-5-amd64 --source-only

For install locally using Debian package, first copy the deb file :

cp /var/lib/dkms/ixgbe/5.3.4/deb/ixgbe-dkms_5.3.4_all.deb /usr/src/

Then delete build files (avoid conflicts) :

rm -r /var/lib/dkms/ixgbe/

Finally install locally :

dpkg -i /usr/src/ixgbe-dkms_5.3.4_all.deb