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Steam Link boots NixOS by kexecing from Valve’s signed kernel

feyor.sh 17 min read Editor score 7/10

The Steam Link’s signed-boot restriction is bypassed by loading a minimal module that adds the missing kexec syscall, then booting a custom kernel. It’s a clever, device-specific Linux porting technique, though its hardware-hacking focus is peripheral to the digest.

What

The project runs NixOS on a Steam Link, whose bootloader accepts only kernels signed by Valve.

How

It boots the Valve-blessed kernel, loads a custom module that adds the kexec syscall, then uses kexec to start the new kernel.

Why it matters

This shows a route for replacing an embedded device’s operating system when its boot chain restricts which kernels can start directly.

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