Samurai

Samurai is a high-performance, low-latency Linux kernel optimized for workloads that demand extreme responsiveness. It is not a generic-use kernel—it is stripped down to the bare essentials, built for Edge, VoIP, Gaming, and VPNs, where every microsecond counts.

⚠️ Important Considerations

• Specialized Kernel: Not designed for general-purpose use. Samurai is highly optimized and minimal—don’t expect it to work on your smart fridge. 🧊
• EXTREME SECURITY WARNING: This kernel prioritizes maximum performance by disabling virtually all security mitigations. This includes, but is not limited to, Spectre/Meltdown/L1TF/SSB mitigations, SELinux, and other hardening measures. This configuration is HIGHLY INSECURE and should ONLY be used in trusted, isolated environments where security is explicitly NOT a concern. If security is a priority for your use case, you MUST re-enable the necessary security mechanisms.
• Minimal Drivers: Limited hardware support due to the removal of unused drivers. Verify compatibility before use.
• No Extensive Debugging: Focus on performance means minimal logging and debugging features. Troubleshooting may be more challenging.

🔥 Key Features

• Extreme Low Latency: Configured with PREEMPT and a Tickless Kernel (NO_HZ_FULL @ 1000Hz) optimized for ultra-responsive performance.
• Lightweight & Minimal Footprint: Unused modules, drivers, and file systems removed for a streamlined footprint and reduced overhead.
• Performance-Focused: Deliberately excludes SELinux, comprehensive CPU security mitigations, and excessive logging to maximize efficiency and minimize performance impact.
• Optimized I/O Performance: Uses mq-deadline scheduler for reduced disk latency.

🚀 Build & Install

1️⃣ Install Dependencies

sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y build-essential libncurses-dev bison flex libssl-dev libelf-dev bc dwarves pahole git

2️⃣ Clone Samurai Repository

git clone https://github.com/0xAFz/samurai.git
cd samurai

3️⃣ Download Kernel Source (e.g., 6.1.x)

wget https://cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v6.x/linux-6.1.x.tar.xz
tar -xvf linux-6.1.x.tar.xz
cd linux-6.1.x

4️⃣ Apply Samurai Config

cp ../.config .

5️⃣ Build the Kernel

make -j$(nproc)

6️⃣ Install (Optional)

sudo make modules_install
sudo make install

📦 Debian Package Build (Optional)

1️⃣ Install Packaging Tools

sudo apt install -y fakeroot

2️⃣ Build .deb Package

fakeroot make -j$(nproc) deb-pkg

3️⃣ Find the Output Files

Generated .deb files (e.g., linux-image-*_amd64.deb) will be in the parent directory.

---

Boot Time Performance

The results below showcase a significant improvement compared to the default Debian kernel.

Testing Environment for Samurai Kernel:

• VM: KVM Infra (Shared resources)
• CPU: 2 Cores
• RAM: 4GB

Samurai Kernel Boot Time:

• Kernel Boot Time: 0.6 seconds
• Full System Boot Time (to userspace): 2 seconds

Comparison with Default Debian Kernel:

The default Debian kernel was previously tested on a server with the following specifications:

• VM: KVM Infra (Shared resources)
• CPU: 4 Cores
• RAM: 8GB

Default Debian Kernel Boot Time (Approximate):

• Kernel Boot Time: 3 seconds
• Full System Boot Time (to userspace): 6 seconds

Performance Improvement:

Based on these tests, the Samurai kernel demonstrates a remarkable improvement in boot time, even when running on a virtual machine with fewer resources:

• Kernel Boot Time Improvement:

  • Improvement: 3 seconds - 0.6 seconds = 2.4 seconds
  • Percentage Improvement: (2.4 / 3) * 100 = 80% faster than the default Debian kernel boot time.

• Full System Boot Time Improvement:

  • Improvement: 6 seconds - 2 seconds = 4 seconds
  • Percentage Improvement: (4 / 6) * 100 ≈ 66.67% faster than the default Debian full system boot time.

These results highlight the effectiveness of the optimizations implemented in the Samurai kernel, delivering significantly faster boot times and a quicker time to a usable system, even on resource-constrained and shared cloud environments.

---

🤝 Contributions

Samurai is built for speed, but there's always room for improvement. Have ideas? Fork the repo, tweak it, and submit a PR. We welcome optimizations and performance hacks!