How do I install kernel header files?

Question

i want to write a device driver but not able to find the header file can someone please help me find them?Also if someone can point out some important site links that would be really appreciated

score 144 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 05 '11 at 18:39

144

You should be able to install the kernel header files for the currently running kernel by running the following in a terminal:

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r)

In general, the kernel header packages are named linux-header-* where "*" indicates the version & variant (generic, server, etc.).

answered Nov 05 '11 at 18:39

JanC

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hey thanks but could you tell me what does generic, server, etc means i want to write (kernel driver) – coder Nov 06 '11 at 03:39
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This won't install the headers for future updates automatically and you'll have to re-run this command every time. Therefore, it's recommended to install the metapackage instead, as described in another answer. – gertvdijk Jun 25 '13 at 21:13
Note: this doesn't put them in the GCC include path, you still need -I. – Ciro Santilli OurBigBook.com Aug 08 '15 at 07:34
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Note: For this to work, the line appropriate deb-src line must be present in /etc/apt/sources.list. – Vorac Oct 24 '16 at 11:38
I'm sorry for it doesn't work at which the version of my kernel is 4.19.57-v7+. How come? – Stan Huang at Taiwan Jul 02 '20 at 07:33

score 112 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 16 '13 at 23:01

112

You can just type:

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-generic

if you are on a Desktop installation. The apt-get will solve the dependencies and install the correct version of kernel headers.

answered Mar 16 '13 at 23:01

Alexandre Teles

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and Ubuntu will also update them when a new version comes out – Csq May 05 '13 at 07:38
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Or linux-headers-virtual if your running a VM in an Openstack instance... – BSchlinker Sep 18 '13 at 06:41
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In Debian Wheezy I get the error message "Package linux-headers-generic is not available, but is referred to by another package. [...] E: Package 'linux-headers-generic' has no installation candidate" – IQAndreas Apr 27 '15 at 03:10
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@IQAndreas the linux-headers-generic package is ubuntu specific. On Debian you should use sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r) – Alexandre Teles Apr 28 '15 at 16:00
I have linux-headers-generic installed on 18.04 but still don't have the headers for the newest and current kernel version. Maybe it's just a bug with this version, I've compiled kernel modules in earlier versions so I must've had the correct headers back then. – user1768761 Jan 19 '23 at 10:11

user.dz · Answer 3 · 2022-03-08T10:53:40.793

20

Case of Obsolete kernel package

This should cover another problem when: the currently running kernel is obsolete, meaning it's not in the repository anymore neither its headers. So the best thing to do is to update the kernel to last version in the repository.

linux-generic is a meta package to keep current version of the kernel & its headers:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install linux-generic

Note: Depending on your Ubuntu edition, See if you need linux-lowlatency (Ubuntu Studio), linux-signed-generic or linux-virtual.

edited Mar 08 '22 at 10:53

answered May 09 '14 at 13:57

user.dz

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None of the other solutions worked for me when trying to install a driver. Thanks you. – Sopalajo de Arrierez Jan 05 '16 at 03:33
2

an almost equivalent for debian is called linux-headers-amd64 (for amd64 systems, obviously) – hanshenrik Apr 20 '17 at 23:24
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Amazing, linux-headers-amd64 did the job for me for my Gitlab pipelines! The linux-headers-$(uname -r) did not work though. Voting up. – Dr_Zaszuś Mar 08 '22 at 09:47

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 15 '14 at 01:46

1

Or if you have aptitude installed: sudo aptitude install linux-headers-$(uname -r)

answered Mar 15 '14 at 01:46

user1527227

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Essentially the same thing. – retrixe Sep 28 '15 at 11:38

score -1 · Answer 5 · edited Feb 13 '18 at 07:52

-1

these commands should work:

sudo apt-get dist-upgrade -y
systemctl reboot
sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r)
sudo apt-get upgrade linux-headers-$(uname -r)

for better instruction checkout this video

edited Feb 13 '18 at 07:52

answered Feb 12 '18 at 21:53

Zen Alex

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He is just asking how to install headers, why would you recommend upgrading the distribution? Do not follow these steps if you just want to download the headers. – AFP_555 Nov 25 '20 at 16:58

How do I install kernel header files?

5 Answers5

Case of Obsolete kernel package

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