Did you know that Obarun makes its own kernel package?
% pacman -Ss linux-lts419
obextra/linux-lts419 4.19.105-3 [installed]
    The LTS Linux kernel and modules
obextra/linux-lts419-docs 4.19.105-3
    Documentation for the LTS Linux kernel
obextra/linux-lts419-headers 4.19.105-3 [installed]
    Headers and scripts for building modules for the LTS Linux kernel
If you have an older machine and have no reason chasing IBM/MS/Oracle/HP boy around popping kernels out of his behind, and if you have noticed linux-firmware becoming huge (I still use the one from 10/2019 beacause it is about 60% of the size of the current one, and I haven't purchased any hardware for years) you may want to think about it. Linux-lts on arch is 5.4, linux is 5.5.
Hail to yee all,

@ fungalnet: Thank you for the precious information.

@ anybody: I may install the abovesaid kernel-lts419. But before I do, and if it is not asking too much, can somebody specify if this kernel supports mounting exFAT and NTFS partitions "out-of-the-box"? And if not, what package(s) shall be installed? Thank you in advance for any further information.

Regards
as far as I know they all do, I don't have a machine to test now, maybe tomorrow, or maybe I'll just use a usb-stick and format it ntfs and see.
But since efi /boot is fat I assume that all kernels must be able to read it.

  • [deleted]

  • Post #4
Hi Oneirosopher

From what I understand, exFAT native support is only available since the kernel version 5.4. Looking at the config file used to build the linux-lts419 there is nothing about exFAT in it but NTFS partition is supported as module with Read/Write.
Hi,

@ fungalnet & @ jean-michel: Many thanks to the both of you for such fast replies! :D

@ fungalnet: No need for what you kindly propose to do! (See jean-michel's answer.) But thanks anyway! :)
jean-michel wroteFrom what I understand, exFAT native support is only available since the kernel version 5.4. Looking at the config file used to build the linux-lts419 there is nothing about exFAT in it
Well, then, just as I suspected!
jean-michel wrotebut NTFS partition is supported as module with Read/Write.
Thanks for this information too. :)

Regards
One of my questions remains unanswered though: what package(s) do I need to install to have a session (loaded with the 4.19 kernel) able to mount exFAT? Although I have not installed kernel 4.19 yet, I'll try to address this for possible users who might ask themselves the same and land on this thread with such a question.

Because, yay (yes, I use yay…) gives a crowdy bunch of packages with the "exfat" keyword:
yay -Ss exfat
aur/exfat-utils-autodetect 1.2.8-1 (+2 0.00%) (Out-of-date 2019-07-05)
    Utilities for exFAT file system
aur/exfat-linux-dkms 2.2.0_3-1 (+3 0.18%)
    This exFAT filesystem module for Linux kernel is based on sdFAT drivers by Samsung, which is used with their smartphone lineups.
aur/sdfat-dkms 2.1.10.6-2 (+3 0.01%)
    FAT12/16/32(VFAT)/exFAT filesystem kernel module - use with DKMS
aur/exfat-utils-nofuse 1.3.0-3 (+26 1.82%)
    Utilities for the exFAT file system without fuse (to prefer exfat kernel module over fuse)
aur/exfat-dkms-git 205.c0915bb-1 (+55 0.05%)
    Native (nofuse) kernel module for EXtendedFAT support - use with DKMS
community/exfat-utils 1.3.0-1 (44.9 KiB 275.0 KiB)
    Utilities for exFAT file system
But amongst this bunch of packages, only one of them is official: community/exfat-utils 1.3.0-1. When using sudo pacman -Ss exfat, it's the only output.

So this exfat-utils package might be the good tool to have an exFAT volume mounted from a kernel less recent than 5.4. (Maybe NOT all of them, though. I remember a -not so old- period when you had to install some fuse-stuff.)

If anyone can confirm after concrete experience, please do.

Regards
okay cool, but now how to downgrade 5.5 to 419LTS

edit: ok updating grub has done the trick
wow this kernel makes everything so much fluid and smooth!!!!
Compared to 5.5 there is massive difference!!!
perhaps it's because of old laptop

holy %*!@ !!!!1

it is enough for me to believe that arch kernel comes with so much bloatware... Like android smartphone that comes with vendor bloatware and google services that slow the device massively...
Now when i install custom ROM without any google application there is significant difference in how the device performs... Hedgewars just runs like never before lol. Same with browser, there is no any latency delays etc.
This lts 4.19 is amazing!!!!!
Hail to yee all,

For information, in case anybody would come across the same problem I had and would not be more expert as I am. (Highly UNprobable, but nevertheless...)

If you installed the LTS kernel and your bootloader is Grub (which is highly likely), just run update-grub and it will take care of everything.

If, for some reason, the bootloader of your box is NOT grub, then, it will be Syslinux. And syslinux won't automate the display of your new kernel at splash. You will have to edit manually the configfile of syslinux. To help you, there is 1. this page of documentation.

Now if, like I have, you mess this config file and are stuck at splash, you may want to have a look at 2. this thread too.

Now, back to other stuff. I can now confirm that, with this kernel, the package exfat-utils alone is enough to take good care of mounting exFAT partitions.

And, YEEES, kernel 4.19 will get your system more responsive!!! I'm so glad I installed it!

Cheers
I just fixed the second link of # 9, which got broken after I set the target thread as solved. (I'm learning, piano piano.) Sorry if anybody clicked on this link in the past hours...
I remember that when I left the debian universe and tried the arch galaxy, my first surprise was that grub-update didn't exist.
I never had to run grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg ever before in my life. Then long after that I discovered this AUR pkg that was called grub-update, which is a shortcut for the above long command. I didn't start really learning linux till I left the debian universe.
knowledge is the only real wealth on this world whatever the subject taken
so Linux lts 4.19 is better than 5.4 ?
saleem wroteso Linux lts 4.19 is better than 5.4 ?
Newer kernels are probably more bloated with code... Design is for modern machines in mind, lots of features from newer kernels aren't used by typical users.
For me 4.19 makes desktop a lot smoother
Hi yee all!

@ saleem: I quite agree with Mounerje's previous post!

If you've not installed 4.19 yet, and depending on what is the bootloader of your Obarun installation, you may want to read my post # 9 on the present thread.

Regards
8 days later
Yeah, 4.19 is really good choice...
I am on Devuan now and there is 
Kernel: x86_64 Linux 4.19.0-8-amd64
Well thought :)

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