Linux, as distributed by Linus Torvalds et al, contains non-Free Software, i.e., software that does not respect your essential freedoms, and it induces you to install additional non-Free Software that it doesn't contain.

GNU Linux-libre is a project to maintain and publish 100% Free versions of Linux, removing the offending portions.

libeRTy

libeRTy is a sub-project that contains .debs of Linux-libre compiled with the PREEMPT_RT patch for realtime operation on 32- and 64-bit x86 CPUs. Please write to the mailing list or visit #gnu-linux-libre on irc.libera.​chat if you need support for additional CPU architectures.

If you need a kernel for general purpose use, and not realtime, see the Freesh APT repository.

How To Use

To use it first download the archive keyring package:

wget https://linux-libre.fsfla.org/pub/linux-libre/liberty/pool/main/libe/liberty-archive-keyring/liberty-archive-keyring_1.2_all.deb

This archive keyring package installs the GPG public keys for Jason Self and Alexandre Oliva in /usr/share/keyrings/liberty-archive-keyring, the repository configuration in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/liberty.sources, and the apt preferences files in /etc/apt/preferences.d/liberty.pref.

At this point you may, at your option, inspect the archive keyring package to your satisfaction with commands such as:

dpkg -c liberty-archive-keyring_1.2_all.deb

Install it:

sudo dpkg -i liberty-archive-keyring_1.2_all.deb

You can also check that the right keys are installed:

gpg --no-default-keyring --keyring /usr/share/keyrings/liberty-archive-keyring.gpg --list-keys

Make sure that you see the fingerprints:

F611 A908 FFA1 65C6 9958 4ED4 9D0D B31B 545A 3198

A8CA A4A2 EB65 5D07 BA1F 367B C338 CAA4 FA70 0A3A

Remove the temporary copy:

rm liberty-archive-keyring_1.2_all.deb

Now you will now be able to update your package manager and install Linux-libre:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install linux-libre-rt

You may also need to install the package linux-libre-rt-headers, depending on whether you need the kernel headers or not.

Sources

You may download the tarball containing the complete and corresponding source code, kernel configuration files, and the instructions to compile and install the kernel from https://linux-libre.fsfla.org/pub/linux-libre/liberty/

Be Free!

Page text is copyright © Jason Self. You can redistribute and/or modify this text under terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version. Please copy and share.

As a special exception, you may propagate and convey this work without including a copy of the GPL as long as you keep intact all notices stating that this license and special exception apply, and include a URI or hyperlink to a public copy of the GPL. If you modify this work, you may extend this exception to your version of the work, but you are not obligated to do so. If you do not wish to do so, delete this exception statement from your version.