AMD RC RAID Driver for Linux Kernel 6.14.x - Build & Installation Guide

Overview

This guide documents the fixes and procedures to successfully compile and install the AMD RC RAID driver (version 9.3.2) on Linux Kernel 6.14.x and Ubuntu 24.04/25.04.

What's New in This Guide

This README addresses critical compilation issues encountered with kernel 6.14+ and provides:

• BTF Compilation Fix - Solution for Unsupported DW_TAG_reference_type errors
• Updated Makefile - Modified to disable BTF generation for binary blob modules
• Complete build and installation workflow for kernel 6.14.0-29-generic and newer

---

Prerequisites

Required Packages

Install these packages before building:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y \
    build-essential \
    linux-headers-$(uname -r) \
    dwarves \
    git \
    mokutil \
    openssl

System Requirements

• Kernel Version: 6.14.0-29-generic or newer
• Ubuntu Version: 24.04 LTS or 25.04
• Architecture: x86_64
• Disk Space: ~500MB for build artifacts

---

Build Instructions

Step 1: Clone the Repository

cd ~/Downloads
git clone https://github.com/apethree/rcraid-driver-9.3.2-5.x-6.14.git
cd rcraid-driver-9.3.2-5.x-6.14/driver_sdk/src

Note: The kernel 6.14 compatibility patch is already applied in this repository.

Step 2: Clean Previous Builds (if any)

make clean

Step 3: Build the Driver

sudo make

Expected Output:

------------------------------------------------------------
- building for kernel 6.14.0-29-generic
------------------------------------------------------------
make -C /lib/modules/6.14.0-29-generic/build M=/path/to/src CONFIG_DEBUG_INFO_BTF_MODULES= modules
  CC [M]  rc_init.o
  CC [M]  rc_msg.o
  CC [M]  rc_mem_ops.o
  CC [M]  rc_event.o
  CC [M]  rc_config.o
  CC [M]  vers.o
  LD [M]  rcraid.o
  MODPOST Module.symvers
  CC [M]  rcraid.mod.o
  LD [M]  rcraid.ko

Signing module using local certificate
Chosen sha512 for signing
Signing /path/to/rcraid.ko Success

Step 4: Verify Build

ls -lh rcraid.ko
modinfo rcraid.ko

Expected:

• File size: ~12MB
• Kernel version: 6.14.0-29-generic
• Signature: sig_id: PKCS#7, sig_hashalgo: sha256

---

Module Signing (Secure Boot)

Automatic Signing

The build process automatically creates and signs the module with a local certificate stored in /var/lib/rccert/certs/.

First-Time Setup (if keys don't exist)

If you've never built this driver before, the mk_certs script will:

1. Generate a 4096-bit RSA signing key
2. Create a self-signed X.509 certificate
3. Import the certificate into MOK (Machine Owner Key) database
4. Sign the rcraid.ko module

You'll be prompted to set a password - remember this! You'll need it during the next reboot to enroll the key.

Verify Key Enrollment

Check if your signing key is already enrolled:

mokutil --test-key /var/lib/rccert/certs/module_signing_key.der

If enrolled: module_signing_key.der is already enrolled If not enrolled: module_signing_key.der is not enrolled

Manual Key Enrollment (if needed)

If the key is not enrolled:

sudo mokutil --import /var/lib/rccert/certs/module_signing_key.der

Enter a password when prompted. On next reboot:

1. MOK Manager will appear (blue screen)
2. Select Enroll MOK
3. Select Continue
4. Enter the password you just set
5. Select Reboot

---

Installation

For Live USB / Pre-Installation

If installing Ubuntu on a RAID array:

# 1. Load the driver in Live environment
sudo insmod rcraid.ko

# 2. Verify RAID disks are visible
lsblk

# 3. Proceed with Ubuntu installation

# 4. Post-install (before reboot)
sudo cp rcraid.ko /target/lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel/drivers/scsi/
sudo chroot /target
depmod -a
mkinitramfs -o /boot/initrd.img-$(uname -r) $(uname -r)
exit

# 5. Reboot

For Existing Ubuntu Installation

If Ubuntu is already installed and you're updating the driver:

# 1. Copy module to kernel directory
sudo cp rcraid.ko /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel/drivers/scsi/

# 2. Update module dependencies
sudo depmod -a

# 3. Backup existing initramfs (optional but recommended)
sudo cp /boot/initrd.img-$(uname -r) /boot/initrd.img-$(uname -r).backup

# 4. Rebuild initramfs
sudo mkinitramfs -o /boot/initrd.img-$(uname -r) $(uname -r)

# 5. Load the module (optional - to test before reboot)
sudo modprobe rcraid

# 6. Reboot to use RAID on boot
sudo reboot

Verify Installation

After reboot:

# Check if module is loaded
lsmod | grep rcraid

# Check module info
modinfo rcraid

# Check RAID devices
lsblk
ls /dev/rc*

---

Updating After Kernel Upgrade

If you upgrade your kernel (e.g., from 6.14.0-29 to 6.14.0-30):

cd ~/Downloads/rcraid-driver-9.3.2-5.x-6.14/driver_sdk/src

# Set new kernel version
export NEW_KVER=$(uname -r)

# Clean and rebuild
sudo make clean
sudo make KVERS=$NEW_KVER

# Install
sudo cp rcraid.ko /lib/modules/$NEW_KVER/kernel/drivers/scsi/
sudo depmod -a $NEW_KVER
sudo mkinitramfs -o /boot/initrd.img-$NEW_KVER $NEW_KVER

# Reboot
sudo reboot

---

Troubleshooting

Issue: BTF Error Still Occurs

Symptom:

Encountered error while encoding BTF.
make[4]: *** [scripts/Makefile.modfinal:57: rcraid.ko] Error 1

Solution: Verify the Makefile was correctly modified:

grep "CONFIG_DEBUG_INFO_BTF_MODULES=" driver_sdk/src/Makefile

Should show:

$(MAKE) -C $(KDIR) M=$(shell pwd) CONFIG_DEBUG_INFO_BTF_MODULES= modules

If not, manually edit line 100 in driver_sdk/src/Makefile.

---

Issue: Module Fails to Load - "Required key not available"

Symptom:

insmod: ERROR: could not insert module rcraid.ko: Required key not available

Solution: Your signing key is not enrolled. See Module Signing section above.

---

Issue: RAID Disks Not Visible

Symptom: RAID arrays don't appear in lsblk or /dev/

Solution:

# Check if module loaded
lsmod | grep rcraid

# Check kernel logs for errors
dmesg | grep -i rcraid

# Try loading manually
sudo modprobe rcraid

# Check PCI devices
lspci | grep -i raid

Quick Reference Commands

# Build
cd rcraid-driver-9.3.2-5.x-6.14/driver_sdk/src
sudo make clean && sudo make

# Install
sudo cp rcraid.ko /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel/drivers/scsi/
sudo depmod -a
sudo mkinitramfs -o /boot/initrd.img-$(uname -r) $(uname -r)

# Load
sudo modprobe rcraid

# Verify
lsmod | grep rcraid
dmesg | grep -i rcraid
lsblk

---

Build Manually(Very Recommended)

• 5.x - 6.14 Linux Kernel :
  1. Download Linux Live ISO burn onto your USB.
  2. Modify from /casper/vmlinuz splash quiet --- to /casper/vmlinuz modprobe.blacklist=ahci,nvme break=mount --- in USB:/boot/grub/grub.cfg & loopback.cfg.
  3. Boot from USB. Then open Terminal.
     
  4. PreInstall git dwarves linux-header-xxx mokutil build-essential in Package management for your linux distro.

     git clone https://github.com/Bemly/rcraid-driver-9.3.2-5.x-6.14.git
     git clone https://github.com/Bemly/rcraid-patch-932.git
     cd rcraid-driver-9.3.2-5.x-6.14/driver_sdk/src
     patch -p2 < ../../rcraid-patch-932/rcraid-932.patch
     sudo make clean
     sudo make
     sudo insmod rcraid.ko

     
  5. Install your Linux distro into Raid Disk. (Dont Reboot)
     
  6. PostInstall

     sudo cp /tmp/dd/rcraid.ko /target/lib/modules/`uname -r`/kernel/drivers/scsi/rcraid.ko
     sudo chroot /target # switch chroot view in the following command.
     depmod -a `uname -r`
     mkinitramfs -o /boot/initrd.img-`uname -r` `uname -r`
     reboot

     
  7. The key may be registered when restarting. Select Enroll Key and enter the password just now to continue and it will take effect.
     
  8. All done!

Update Kernel

Thanks to [https://github.com/Bemly/rcraid-driver-9.3.2-5.x-6.14]

Last Updated: October 4, 2025 Tested On: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, Kernel 6.14.0-29-generic