zfs-dkms

zfs-dkms package provides Dynamic Kernel Module Support. It will automatically build ZFS kernel modules for compatible kernels.

However, there are several disadvantages:

• slow to build

• little warning when DKMS build fails

zfs-dkms is required for users who are using custom kernels or do not accept delays for kernel updates. This package is also required for derivative distros such as Artix Linux.

Installation

1. Check kernel variant:

   INST_LINVAR=$(sed 's|.*linux|linux|' /proc/cmdline | sed 's|.img||g' | awk '{ print $1 }')
   

If you are using live image, use the hard-coded value:

#INST_LINVAR=linux

1. Check kernel version:

   INST_LINVER=$(pacman -Qi ${INST_LINVAR} | grep Version | awk '{ print $3 }')
   

2. Install kernel headers:

   if [ "${INST_LINVER}" = \
   "$(pacman -Si ${INST_LINVAR}-headers | grep Version | awk '{ print $3 }')" ]; then
    pacman -S --noconfirm --needed ${INST_LINVAR}-headers
   else
    pacman -U --noconfirm --needed \
    https://archive.archlinux.org/packages/l/${INST_LINVAR}-headers/${INST_LINVAR}-headers-${INST_LINVER}-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst
   fi
   

3. Install zfs-dkms:

   pacman -Sy --needed --noconfirm zfs-dkms glibc
   

   If pacman output contains the following error message, then the kernel needs a downgrade, or you can try zfs-dkms-git package:

   (3/4) Install DKMS modules
   ==> dkms install --no-depmod -m zfs -v 2.0.4 -k 5.12.0-rc5-1-git-00030-gd19cc4bfbff1
   configure: error:
       *** None of the expected "capability" interfaces were detected.
       *** This may be because your kernel version is newer than what is
       *** supported, or you are using a patched custom kernel with
       *** incompatible modifications.
       ***
       *** ZFS Version: zfs-2.0.4-1
       *** Compatible Kernels: 3.10 - 5.11
   

4. Ignore kernel package from updates:

   sed -i 's/#IgnorePkg/IgnorePkg/' /etc/pacman.conf
   sed -i "/^IgnorePkg/ s/$/ ${INST_LINVAR} ${INST_LINVAR}-headers/" /etc/pacman.conf
   

5. Load kernel module:

   modprobe zfs
   

Update kernel

1. Check kernel variant:

   INST_LINVAR=$(sed 's|.*linux|linux|' /proc/cmdline | sed 's|.img||g' | awk '{ print $1 }')
   

2. Install zfs-dkms:

   pacman -Sy --needed $INST_LINVAR $INST_LINVAR-headers zfs-dkms glibc
   

   If pacman output contains the following error message, then the kernel needs a downgrade, or you can try zfs-dkms-git package:

   (3/4) Install DKMS modules
   ==> dkms install --no-depmod -m zfs -v 2.0.4 -k 5.12.0-rc5-1-git-00030-gd19cc4bfbff1
   configure: error:
       *** None of the expected "capability" interfaces were detected.
       *** This may be because your kernel version is newer than what is
       *** supported, or you are using a patched custom kernel with
       *** incompatible modifications.
       ***
       *** ZFS Version: zfs-2.0.4-1
       *** Compatible Kernels: 3.10 - 5.11
   

Install compatible kernel

If the installed kernel is not compatible with ZFS, a kernel downgrade is needed.

1. Choose kernel variant. Available variants are:

   • linux

   • linux-lts

   • linux-zen

   • linux-hardened

   INST_LINVAR=linux
   

2. Install kernels available when the package was built. Check build date:

   DKMS_DATE=$(pacman -Syi zfs-dkms \
   | grep 'Build Date' \
   | sed 's/.*: //' \
   | LC_ALL=C xargs -i{} date -d {} -u +%Y/%m/%d)
   

3. Check kernel version:

   INST_LINVER=$(curl https://archive.archlinux.org/repos/${DKMS_DATE}/core/os/x86_64/ \
   | grep \"${INST_LINVAR}-'[0-9]' \
   | grep -v sig \
   | sed "s|.*$INST_LINVAR-||" \
   | sed "s|-x86_64.*||")
   

4. Install compatible kernel and headers:

   pacman -U \
   https://archive.archlinux.org/packages/l/${INST_LINVAR}/${INST_LINVAR}-${INST_LINVER}-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst \
   https://archive.archlinux.org/packages/l/${INST_LINVAR}-headers/${INST_LINVAR}-headers-${INST_LINVER}-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst
   

5. Continue from installation.