.. title: Gentoo 4.14.x generic kernel configuration
.. slug: gentoo-414x-generic-kernel-configuration
.. date: 2018-09-13 14:24:52 UTC+02:00
.. tags: gentoo, linux, kernel
.. category: 
.. link: 
.. description: A generic configuration file for building 4.14.x Linux kernels on Gentoo
.. type: text

While the `Gentoo Handbook`_ contains almost every step needed into making a
working Gentoo_ installation the kernel configuration step can be quite
confusing for a new user. Enabling proper hardware support and turning on all
the useful features can be daunting if you're not a developer or simply haven't
encountered the kernel configuration before.

A good way around it is to use a generic kernel. genkernel_ provides a way to
build a default kernel but I often find its default configuration to be either
out-of-date or missing some important bit.

So, if you want to get started on Gentoo quickly you might as well use *my*
kernel configuration which is based on the Fedora kernel and as such follows an
everything-and-the-kitchen-sink approach. It supports practically every bit of
hardware out there, will work on desktop PCs, laptops and servers, and includes
important security features such as KPTI. The downside is that it's very large
and will take a long time to compile.

To use it install the latest stable ``sys-kernel/gentoo-sources`` package
(4.14.x), copy the configuration file under ``/usr/src/linux/`` and rename it
to ``.config`` then proceed to build the kernel as usual.

`Gentoo 4.14.x kernel configuration file`_

.. _`Gentoo Handbook`: https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Handbook:Main_Page
.. _Gentoo: https://www.gentoo.org
.. _genkernel: https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Genkernel
.. _`Gentoo 4.14.x kernel configuration file`: https://www.setphaserstostun.org/config-4.14