linuxboot / linuxboot/heads

Booting Arch Linux

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Description

Looking at [this issue](https://github.com/osresearch/heads/issues/699#issuecomment-611274089) in another context, I found out how to fix an issue I had in Arch Linux so far.

### What is happening
When kexec is starting the Arch Linux kernel and initramfs, the screen is not showing anything. I found out that the system is booting normally, if I just blindly type in my luks passphrase.

### How it should look
You should be able to see early messages of the initramfs, instead you only the kernel messages after assuming what is happening.

### How to fix
[Adding i915 module to the initramfs](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Kernel_mode_setting#Early_KMS_start) fixes this issue.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Read the linked issue 699 comment and the Arch Linux Early KMS guidance, then reproduce the Arch Linux kernel and initramfs boot through kexec. Inspect how the initramfs is assembled and whether i915 is included; done means early initramfs messages are visible without blindly entering the LUKS passphrase.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
arch-linux, linux
Domain
operating-systems
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Active
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
58/100

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