Why does the kernel image appear like a DOS / Windows executable?

james8755

com.solus-project.current.5.14.21-210 Type😃OS/Windows executable (application/x-ms-dos-execu in /boot. Im not 100% sure but I don't think that is supposed to be there. I've erased and installed a fresh copy twice and it keeps showing up. I noticed it after having to do a reinstall after some unfortunate WINE blunders. I will never use WINE again and I remember now why I hate Windows. Everything works fine but I'm going nuts trying to figure out why its there or how it got there or if it is in fact supposed to be there. I think it goes without saying im a noob.

ReillyBrogan

Are you talking about kernel-com.solus-project.current.5.14.21-210? If so that's the Linux kernel, the system loads it during boot and it's 100% supposed to be there.

james8755

ReillyBrogan @Staudey I get that it is need for the os to function. I guess my real question is why would a linux kernel be a Dos/Windows Executable.

Staudey

Like @ReillyBrogan said, that file is absolutely essential and definitely at the right place.
The original file is installed by the linux-current package (or linux-ltsif you switch to the LTS kernel):
Package linux-current has file /usr/lib/kernel/com.solus-project.current.5.14.21-210

clr-boot-manager, which handles the boot partition incl. kernel upgrades, then moves that file into /boot

Harvey

In order to actually boot. This is not a Solus specific thing and working as intended.

The "MS-DOS executable" text shown by file is a red herring: the overall image format is actually Portable Executable (PE), which has to start with the MZ signature. Linux kernel employs a few tricks to appear like a valid PE file so that it can be booted by a UEFI-compliant firmware.

Source: https://reverseengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/19010/extract-zimage-from-ms-dos-executable