Building a custom kernel in Manjaro Linux

By default kernels in Manjaro are built without support for AppArmor, Audit etc. After some research and reading Manjaro forums I came up with the following instruction on how to build and install your own kernel and overcome possible problems with network :)

During the instruction I use a native for Majnaro way to build a kernel i.e. with the use of its package manager. So let’s clone a skeleton of a package. For example, Linux 4.17

$ git clone https://gitlab.manjaro.org/packages/core/linux417.git

Then to overcome possible problems with network we need to clone a package for Realtek 8168 adapter — I’ve got the one and I had these issues.

$ git clone https://gitlab.manjaro.org/packages/extra/linux417-extramodules/r8168.git

We’ll use it a bit later. Now get back to the linux417 folder, modify the following configuration file:

config.x86_64

Update the checksums:

$ updpkgsums

Build the kernel package:

$ makepkg -s

Install the kernel packages

$ sudo pacman -U ./linux417-4.17.19-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz ./linux417-headers-4.17.19-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz

After that don’t restart your PC, you need to build and install those r8168 module. So go to the corresponding folder and run

$ makepkg -s

And then install the module

$ sudo pacman -U ./r8168-8.045.08.tar.gz

Now you can reboot your PC and enjoy the fresh kernel :)