Skip to main content
You can add extra kernel arguments to Talos when creating the installation media, or modify them later on existing machines.
Some kernel arguments are added automatically by Omni (for example, the SideroLink arguments), while others are provided by Talos.These automatically added arguments are not user-editable and modifying them is not supported.This document describes how to modify additional kernel arguments only.

Add Additional Kernel Arguments During Installation Media Creation

On the overview page, click Download installation media on the right. Add the kernel arguments you want to pass to Talos Linux in the Additional kernel arguments field: Download installation media Click Download. When a machine boots from that installation media, it includes the additional kernel arguments in its kernel command line. If the additional arguments are not empty, Omni creates a KernelArgs resource for that machine. This resource can be viewed and modified later to update the kernel arguments. For example:
omnictl get kernelargs $MACHINE_ID -o yaml
Example output:
metadata:
  namespace: default
  type: KernelArgs.omni.sidero.dev
  id: $MACHINE_ID
  version: 1
  owner:
  phase: running
  created: 2025-10-29T12:58:17Z
  updated: 2025-10-29T12:58:17Z
spec:
  args:
    - talos.dashboard.disabled=1
    - talos.environment=http_proxy=http://proxy.example.com:8080

Update kernel Arguments on Existing Machines

Modifying kernel arguments on existing machines triggers an upgrade and reboots the machine.
Some conditions must be met for kernel argument updates to take effect. If these conditions are not met, they appear in the unmetconditions field of the KernelArgsStatus resource and in the UI.
  • UI
  • CLI
  1. Go to the Machines tab.
  2. Click the three dots next to the machine you want to modify and select Update kernel args.
Update kernel args
  1. In the popup, click the pencil icon to edit the current kernel arguments.
  2. Click Update.
Update kernel args popup