How To Install Bpftool on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

In this tutorial, we will show you how to install Bpftool on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. The Extended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF) is a powerful technology that allows developers to run sandboxed programs in the Linux kernel without changing kernel source code or loading kernel modules. One of the essential tools for working with eBPF is bpftool.

This article assumes you have at least basic knowledge of Linux, know how to use the shell, and most importantly, you host your site on your own VPS. The installation is quite simple and assumes you are running in the root account, if not you may need to add ‘sudo‘ to the commands to get root privileges. I will show you the step-by-step installation of the Bpftool on Ubuntu 24.04 (Noble Numbat). You can follow the same instructions for Ubuntu 22.04 and any other Debian-based distribution like Linux Mint, Elementary OS, Pop!_OS, and more as well.

Prerequisites

• A server running one of the following operating systems: Ubuntu and any other Debian-based distribution like Linux Mint.
• It’s recommended that you use a fresh OS install to prevent any potential issues.
• Familiarity with the Linux command line.
• SSH access to the server (or just open Terminal if you’re on a desktop).
• An active internet connection. You’ll need an internet connection to download the necessary packages and dependencies.
• An Ubuntu 24.04 system with root access or a user with sudo privileges.

Install Bpftool on Ubuntu 24.04

Step 1. Updating the Package Repository.

First, it’s crucial to update your system packages to ensure you have the latest versions. Open your terminal and run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Updating your system packages helps avoid compatibility issues and ensures that you have the latest security patches.

Step 2. Installing Dependencies.

bpftool requires several dependencies to function correctly. Install them by running:

sudo apt install -y git build-essential libelf-dev clang llvm

This command installs the necessary packages, including Git for cloning the bpftool repository, build tools, and libraries required for compiling bpftool.

Step 3. Installing Linux Tools for Your Kernel.

Install the Linux tools specific to your kernel version:

sudo apt install linux-tools-$(uname -r)

If you encounter an error stating that the package cannot be found, it may be because the tools for your specific kernel version are not available. In such cases, consider installing a different kernel version that has the necessary tools.

Step 4. Installing Bpftool.

Next, clone the bpftool repository from GitHub:

git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/libbpf/bpftool.git

The --recurse-submodules option ensures that all necessary submodules are also cloned.

Navigate to the bpftool source directory and build the tool:

cd bpftool/src
make

After the build process completes, install bpftool:

sudo make install

Verify the installation by checking the version:

bpftool --version

To make bpftool accessible system-wide, create a symbolic link:

sudo ln -s /usr/local/sbin/bpftool /usr/sbin/bpftool

Ensure that bpftool is correctly installed by running:

bpftool --help

If the installation was successful, you should see the bpftool help output, which lists available commands and options.

Step 5. Troubleshooting.

If you encounter issues during the installation process, consider the following troubleshooting tips:

• “bpftool: Command not found” error: Ensure that the symbolic link was created correctly in Step 7. If the issue persists, try running sudo ldconfig to update the system’s library cache
• Kernel version compatibility issues: If you cannot install the Linux tools package for your specific kernel version, consider upgrading your kernel to a supported version. Consult the Ubuntu documentation for instructions on updating your kernel.
• Missing dependencies: Double-check that you have installed all the required dependencies listed in Step 2. If you encounter missing packages, try running sudo apt install <package-name> to install them individually.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Bpftool. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing Bpftool on the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Bpftool website.