Key upgrades in the 6.18 branch include aggressive micro-optimizations and improved performance for activities like gaming and virtual machines, resulting in up to a 10% increase in I/O benchmark performance. However, users should be cautious as some DKMS modules may not compile with the new kernel symbols, necessitating a fallback option to avoid unbootable systems.
To prepare for installation, users should first install a fallback kernel and ensure it is accessible in GRUB. The installation process involves adding the XanMod repository, importing a signing key for security, and installing the required kernel version. If out-of-tree drivers are used, it's recommended to also install a minimal DKMS toolchain.
After installation, users should reboot and verify the kernel version to confirm successful installation. The guide also provides troubleshooting tips for common issues, including VirtualBox start failures and NVIDIA driver problems. If instability occurs, users can easily revert to the previous kernel.
In summary, the XanMod Kernel offers enhanced performance and stability for users seeking to optimize their Debian-based systems, while also providing safety measures to ensure a smooth transition to the new kernel. Users are encouraged to experiment with the updates while having a fallback kernel ready in case any issues arise
XanMod Kernel 6.18.8 and 6.12.68 LTS released
XanMod 6.18.8 brings LLVM ThinLTO, BBRv3 and an optional PREEMPT_RT build to Debian‑based machines, delivering noticeably smoother I/O and scheduler performance on everyday hardware. This step‑by‑step guide shows how to add the repository, import the signing key, install the kernel and pull in just the DKMS toolchain you actually need. It also warns about the most common module breakages – NVIDIA, VirtualBox and older NVIDIA drivers – and gives quick fixes that saved me from a black screen. Keep a fallback kernel handy, reboot, and verify with uname -r to make sure you’re running the new 6.18.8‑xanmod1 kernel.
XanMod Kernel 6.18.8 and 6.12.68 LTS released @ Linux Compatible
