How to deploy a real-time kernel
Deploying Ubuntu with a real-time kernel using MAAS
This guide walks you through the steps to deploy an Ubuntu machine with a real-time (RT) kernel^. The RT kernel comes with all Ubuntu Pro^ subscriptions for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.
The RT kernel is currently in Beta. General availability is coming soon.
How the RT kernel gets installed
The RT kernel isn’t directly integrated into MAAS. Instead, cloud-init is used to first deploy a generic kernel. Then cloud-init installs the RT kernel and reboots the machine to enable it. Be aware that after MAAS marks the machine as DEPLOYED, there’ll be a delay while cloud-init completes and the machine reboots.
Here’s the sequence of events:
- Machine deploys with Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and a generic kernel.
- Machine reboots.
- Bootloader instructed to boot from disk.
- Host requests MAAS for configuration.
- MAAS sends cloud-init config to host.
- Cloud-init activates Ubuntu Pro.
- Ubuntu Pro agent installs the RT kernel.
- Another reboot to enable the new kernel.
- System is ready for use.
What you’ll need
- Valid Ubuntu Pro token (find yours at Ubuntu Pro Dashboard^^*^^).
- MAAS 3.2 or later with Ubuntu 22.04 LTS images.
- A host compatible with Ubuntu RT kernel.
- Internet connection.
Offline installation of the RT kernel is not supported currently.
Deploying the RT kernel
Perform these steps in the MAAS UI:
-
Enlist and commission the host: Do this as you normally would.
-
Initiate deployment: Select the host and click
Deploy
. -
Choose OS and release: Opt for
Ubuntu
andUbuntu 22.04 LTS "Jammy Jellyfish"
. -
Configure cloud-init: Select
Cloud-init user-data
and use the following template. ReplaceYOUR_TOKEN
with your valid token.#cloud-config power_state: mode: reboot ubuntu_advantage: token: YOUR_TOKEN enable: - esm-infra - realtime-kernel
-
Start deployment: Click
Start deployment for machine
.
Verifying the deployment
After deployment, execute these commands on the host to confirm RT kernel activation:
-
Check Pro status
pro status
You should see
realtime-kernel
as enabled. -
Confirm kernel version
uname -a
Your machine should now be up and running with an RT kernel.
Last updated 10 days ago.