Advanced Linux: The Linux Kernel

Course details

Upskill as a Linux developer, network engineer, or DevOps professional. In this hands-on course, instructor Kevin Dankwardt provides an overview of the role and functionality of the Linux kernel, including setup and how to write, compile, and insert loadable kernel modules. Along the way, find out why configuring and building custom kernels can help to illuminate the kernel's breadth of functionality as well as provide insights on the kernel's capabilities.

Learning objectives
Configure and build a Linux kernel.
Write, compile, and insert loadable kernel modules.
Navigate the Linux kernel source code.
Describe and explain key actions by the Linux kernel during booting.

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Working with the Linux kernel
02 - Using the exercise files
03 - Prerequisites and takeaways
04 - What is the Linux kernel

1. Surveying the Linux Kernel

05 - Discover and control hardware
06 - Challenge - Hardware
07 - Solution - Hardware
08 - System calls in-depth
09 - Challenge - System calls (syscalls)
10 - Solution - System calls (syscalls)
11 - Read messages from the kernel and proc
12 - Challenge - kernel messages and proc
13 - Solution - kernel messages and proc
14 - Introduction to sys
15 - Challenge - sysfs
16 - Solution - sysfs
17 - Device drivers and device files
18 - Challenge - Drivers and device files
19 - Solution - Drivers and device files

2. Booting

20 - Understanding the bootloader GRUB
21 - Configuring GRUB
22 - Kernel command line parameters
23 - Demo kernel command line args
24 - Process 1 and start-up services
25 - Challenge - GRUB, command line parameters, boot sequence
26 - Solution - GRUB, command line parameters, boot sequence

3. Working with Loadable Kernel Modules

27 - Loadable kernel modules (LKMs)
28 - Finding the LKMs
29 - Challenge - Finding LKMs
30 - Solution - Finding LKMs
31 - Using LKM Commands
32 - Challenge - Working with LKM commands
33 - Solution - Working with LKM commands
34 - LKM Dependencies & Use Count
35 - Challenge - Working with module dependencies and counts
36 - Solution - Working with module dependencies and counts
37 - How LKMs and writing LKMs work
38 - Challenge - How LKMs work
39 - Solution - How LKMs work

4. Examining Linux Kernel Source Code

40 - Getting Linux kernel source code
41 - Explore the kernel makefile
42 - Examine and build kernel documentation
43 - Search the kernel source
44 - Demonstration of kernel source and searching
45 - Examine kernel driver source
46 - Demonstration - kernel source
47 - Additional selected subdirectories
48 - Challenge - Linux kernel source code
49 - Solution - Linux kernel source code

5. Configuring and Building a Linux Kernel

50 - Using make menuconfig
51 - Using make xconfig
52 - Explore kernel config files
53 - Build and install modules and kernel
54 - Demonstration configuing and building
55 - Challenge - Configuring and building a kernel
56 - Solution - Configuring and building a kernel

Conclusion

57 - Next steps

Advanced Linux: The Linux Kernel

Authors

Kevin Dankwardt