Create Unified Kernel Image from Scratch
A Unified Kernel Image (UKI) simplifies distributing small kernel images by combining components into a single UEFI PE file. UKIs ease booting on UEFI systems, potentially with direct kernel support.
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A Unified Kernel Image (UKI) simplifies the distribution of small kernel images by combining a UEFI boot stub program, a Linux kernel image, an initramfs, and other resources into a single UEFI PE file. UKIs can be directly invoked by UEFI firmware or through a boot loader. To create a UKI, the Linux kernel should be compiled with EFI support, and tools like ukify can be used to pack all data into one PE file. The process involves creating metadata files, filling specific sections, and using objcopy with the right parameters. Once the UKI is created, it can be booted on UEFI-compatible systems, making distribution and booting easier. Future developments may include direct kernel support for UKIs. The process also involves using systemd efi stub as the bootloader to copy Linux and initramfs to memory, display the splash screen, and pass control to Linux with the appropriate parameters. Overall, UKIs offer a convenient way to distribute and boot kernel images on UEFI systems.
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