Install kernel for turbo boost server on centos 7

yum install https://mirror.galaxydata.ru/elrepo/archive/kernel/el7/x86_64/RPMS/kernel-ml-4.20.13-1.el7.elrepo.x86_64.rpm
grub2-set-default 'CentOS Linux (4.20.13-1.el7.elrepo.x86_64) 7 (Core)'
grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg

To enable the Intel Turbo Boost feature on a CentOS 7 server, you need to follow these steps since by default, CentOS uses a stable kernel that may not include support for all modern processor technologies like Turbo Boost. The best way is to use an alternative repository called ELRepo which provides updated kernels with enhanced performance features.

Preparing Your System

Before starting, ensure your system is up-to-date:

sudo yum update -y

Install Required Tools

For successful compilation and installation of new kernel packages, we need development tools:

sudo yum install -y epel-release wget gcc make bzip2 perl bison flex

Adding ELRepo Repository

ELRepo is an additional repository containing alternative packages for RHEL-based distributions such as CentOS. Add it using the following commands:

sudo rpm --import https://www.elrepo.org/RPM-GPG-KEY-elrepo.org
sudo wget http://www.elrepo.org/elrepo-release-7.el7.elrepo.noarch.rpm
sudo rpm -Uvh elrepo-release-7*.noarch.rpm

Selecting Appropriate Kernel Version

Now let’s see what kernel versions are available in this repository:

yum list available | grep kernel*

Pay attention to the kernel-ml version, which stands for Mainline kernel and includes support for newer hardware optimizations.

Let’s install the latest available mainline kernel:

sudo yum install -y kernel-ml

Updating GRUB Bootloader Configuration

After successfully installing the new kernel, we must update the GRUB configuration file so that our new kernel will be loaded automatically at next boot:

sudo grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg

Also verify if the new kernel has been set as the first option in the boot order:

ls -la /etc/grub2.cfg

Or check directly from GRUB config:

grep menuentry /boot/grub2/grub.cfg

This should show a list of possible boot options. Ensure that your newly installed kernel-ml is listed first.

Reboot the Server

Reboot your server to load the new kernel:

sudo reboot

Verify Installed Kernel

After rebooting, check which kernel is currently running:

uname -a

The output should reflect the new kernel version.

Enabling Turbo Boost

Intel’s Turbo Boost allows the CPU to temporarily increase its frequency when performing intensive computations. To enable Turbo Boost, execute the following command:

echo "1" > /sys/devices/system/cpu/intel_pstate/no_turbo

However, note that this method works only with kernels starting from version 4.x because older ones used different mechanisms (like cpufreq module), and settings were applied differently.

Now your CentOS 7 server supports Turbo Boost technology, ensuring improved performance during peak loads.

Important Note: Monitor your hardware temperature closely while using Turbo Boost mode, especially under heavy workloads, as increased clock frequencies lead to higher heat generation.