arch-linux-surface

This is an Arch Linux packager that applies patches for Surface devices to the Linux kernel of your choice.

This repository originally tracked jakeday's repository on the master branch. As of November 2019, the master branch has officially switched over to using linux-surface's version of these patches since jakeday's repository appears to be no longer actively maintained. As of March 2020, support for jakeday's patches has been dropped.

Additionally, please refer to the linux-surface repository itself as another source of builds compatible with Arch Linux. This repository will continue to be actively maintained by me though, so you are welcome to use either source.

Pre-Installation

First thing you're going to want to do is to clone this repository:

git clone https://github.com/dmhacker/arch-linux-surface
cd arch-linux-surface

Before you begin compiling & installing the patched kernel, it's recommended that you install all necessary firmware that your Surface device needs and replace suspend with hibernate. You can do this by running the setup.sh script WITHOUT superuser permissions.

sh setup.sh

As of December 2019, the setup script should NOT be run with superuser permissions. This is both by design and for your own safety. If the script requires superuser permissions at any point in time, it will prompt you for them.

Installation

After you have run the setup script, it is now time to install the patched kernel. Find the latest version {VERSION}* in the pre-built binary releases and download the following tar files:

• linux-surface-{VERSION}-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz
• linux-surface-headers-{VERSION}-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz

^{*Replace {VERSION} with whatever the latest version number is. For example, 5.13.15-1.}

After you have downloaded these files, cd into the directory containing them and run the following commands:

sudo pacman -U linux-surface-headers-{VERSION}-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz
sudo pacman -U linux-surface-{VERSION}-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz

You are now finished. Reboot your system and change your bootloader to load the linux-surface kernel.

Additional Packages

Consider installing the following packages from the AUR if your device meets the given requirements.

• libwacom-surface — all devices — may help fix IPTS/touchscreen issues
• surface-control — Surface Book 2 only — provides an interface for controlling the SB2's dGPU
• surface-dtx-daemon — Surface Book 2 only — improves the clipboard detachment process for the SB2

Troubleshooting

For touchscreen issues, consider looking at issue #56.

For stylus issues, consider looking at issue #8.

For WiFi issues, consider looking at issue #62.

Please do not create new issues regarding these problems if you have not tried to fix them using the above guides.