Testing with the "stock Ubuntu" kernel has already been done as noted in the original report:
1) Linux Mint includes the "stock Ubuntu" kernel as is, it doesn't modify or patch it. 2) Both the "nvidia-dkms-<version>" and "initramfs-tools" packages are pulled directly from the Ubuntu "noble" repositories. 3) The issue originated with the cited Ledkov patch that is in the "stock Ubuntu" kernel package. Bottom-line: Linux Mint plays no part in and is not a contributor to this defect. The Linux Mint kernel *is* the "stock Ubuntu" kernel. The request has already been met. -- Advanced Applications Rod Barnes On Wed, May 27, 2026, 1:20 AM Timo Aaltonen <[email protected]> wrote: > please test using stock ubuntu > > ** Changed in: linux (Ubuntu) > Status: New => Incomplete > > -- > You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug > report. > https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2154307 > > Title: > DKMS modules installed as .ko.zst; are not included in initramfs > > Status in linux package in Ubuntu: > Incomplete > > Bug description: > DKMS-built kernel modules are installed as .ko.zst (zstd-compressed) > rather than uncompressed .ko files. The initramfs-tools module > inclusion code does not handle .ko.zst files — it finds and includes > only uncompressed .ko files. As a result, DKMS-managed modules are > absent from the initramfs, and drivers depending on them fail to load > at early boot. > > The current workaround are manual steps to run unzstd --rm on the > modules, depmod -a, and update-initramfs to include them. > > Affected kernels (confirmed on this system): > 6.8.0-50-generic: broken (first occurrence) > 6.11.0-24-generic: broken > 6.11.0-25-generic: broken > 6.11.0-26-generic: working (uncompressed .ko files present after > upgrade) > 6.11.0-28-generic: broken (regression) > All subsequent kernels through 6.17.0-29-generic: broken > > Cause: > July 2023, a patch series by Dimitri John Ledkov was applied to Ubuntu's > kernel packaging to enable zstd-compressed modules: > https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/kernel-team/2023-July/141412.html > > The patch series description makes clear the intent was for DKMS-built > modules to remain uncompressed. It explicitly states: "the makefile > is patched to not attempt installing random modules compressed — this > is to ensure that any dkms / lrm / modules builds." > > However, in practice, DKMS reads CONFIG_MODULE_COMPRESS_ZSTD from the > kernel configuration and compresses its output accordingly, regardless > of that intent. The result is that DKMS modules are installed as > .ko.zst rather than as .ko. > > Investigation shows initramfs-tools does have .zst handling, but only > in the add_firmware() function (searching /lib/firmware/ paths). There > is no corresponding .zst handling in the module inclusion code path. > Confirmed by: $ grep -A 10 -B 10 "zst" /usr/share/initramfs- > tools/hook-functions > > This leaves a conflict between the actions of the components: > - Ubuntu kernel packaging compresses modules and intends to exclude DKMS > — but does not fully achieve that exclusion > - DKMS follows CONFIG_MODULE_COMPRESS_ZSTD from the kernel config and > compresses its output > - initramfs-tools has no .zst handling in its module inclusion path, > only in its firmware path > > Environment: > Distribution: Linux Mint 22.3 (Ubuntu Noble/24.04 base) > Kernel: Affects 6.8.0-50-generic and all subsequent kernels tested > through 6.17.0-29-generic, with one exception noted above > GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super > NVIDIA driver: 580.159.03 (nvidia-dkms-580) > > To manage notifications about this bug go to: > https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/2154307/+subscriptions > > -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2154307 Title: DKMS modules installed as .ko.zst; are not included in initramfs To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/2154307/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list [email protected] https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs
