[Bug 2109822] Re: Add support for building ARM64 images with nvidia kernels in noble

[Antoine Lassagne]

Hi,

I built this branch and I am testing it right now. This is tricky,
because the branch allow to pick nvidia-dedicated kernel that do not
exist in Questing's PPAs. I am discussing with the kernel team to find a
solution.

About the channel. I used it to tune the kernel flavour, and allow for
example to pick `nvidia-hwe-24.04-edge` instead of `nvidia-hwe-24.04`.
I'm not familiar with the codebase and if I used the wrong variable, I
can change it or even add a dedicated one.

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Title:
  Add support for building ARM64 images with nvidia kernels in noble

Status in livecd-rootfs package in Ubuntu:
  In Progress

Bug description:
  
  [ Impact ]

   * In partner engineering, we maintain specific nvidia hardware which require a dedicated optimized kernel. We need to build Desktop images for these machines, on a regular basis, to run the certification suites.
  Right now the kernel we need is `linux-nvidia-hwe-24.04-edge`, but I'm anticipating that it will be `linux-nvidia-hwe-24.04` at some point so this should be possible to configure.

   * The resolution involves adding a subarchitecture (SUBARCH) option
  in Desktop images which, when provided, will behave accordingly. a
  CHANNEL option can also be provided to add the channel.

  [ Test Plan ]

   1. Create a Desktop ISO. It will contain the generic kernel.
   2. Create a Desktop ISO with the proposed package. It will contain the generic kernel too.
   3. Create a Desktop ISO after mentioning subarch=nvidia in the metadatas. The kernel should now be nvidia's.
   4. Create a Desktop ISO after mentioning subarch=nvidia in the metadatas. The kernel should now be nvidia's edge.
   5. Build the images from 3, 4, 5 with ubuntu-cdimage and test that they boot correctly and have the right kernel.
  Please not that the debian-cd branch to be used it the following merge proposal: https://code.launchpad.net/~antoinelassagne/debian-cd/+git/debian-cd/+merge/485191 

  [ Where problems could occur ]

   * If the bash scripts becomes invalid or go in the wrong branch, the
  image build process could simply stop working, or provide images with
  the wrong kernel. The test plan reflects this risk.

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