How to cross-compile kernel for aarch64 on x86 host without qemu?

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1

I’m building custom sd card image with nixos for aarch64 target (mt7622 soc) on x86 host computer and faced with kernel cross-compile issue. In general everything works, but when I’m trying to apply patches to kernel or changes in config kernel recompiles from scratch (obviously) using user-space qemu to call aarch64 version of gcc (which is less obvious for me). It takes a lot of time even on 12-core i7. Is it possible to build kernel using native gcc without qemu emulation?

I’m building my image using this command:

NIXOS_CONFIG=$(pwd)/configuration.nix nix-build ./image.nix

and using configuration.nix, image.nix

2

I’ve used this in the past:

  boot.kernelPackages = let
    crossPkgs = import pkgs.path {
      localSystem.system = "x86_64-linux";
      crossSystem.system = "aarch64-linux";
    };
  in crossPkgs.linuxPackages_latest;

i.e. build everything natively, but build the kernel with a cross compiling builder. It works quite well.

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