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Update Linux Kernel?

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by vida

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I am currenlty using RHN for updating my firewall, but always exclude the kernel packets because I am so green with Linux and am just listening to what the guy that set it up told me - which was that it would mess up the os to do kernel updates - to just upGrade. Meanwhile - at the rhn site, updating kernels are only a problem with older release dates and only when using up2date. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm afraid to update the kernel, upGrade the version, and more afraid NOT to with all the security scares.

2 replies

by lordinfidel

the good news is that if you are using the rhn and you update the kernel. 99 out of 100 times it is going to work.

You will also find that after it updates, when you boot up, you will have 2 choices of which kernel to load. It will default to the old kernel.

Assuming you are using grub as your boot loader. In /boot/grub edit grub.conf and change the boot loader. Typically change it from 1 to 0. Since your new kernel should be listed first in the boot option order.

Tips-
Your best bet when upgrading the kernel is to use a rpm. Always use the rpm -ivh option. never install a bleeding edge kernel.

A safe kernel right now is the 2.4.20-x kernels. You should not have any problem with them.

Don't try to use the src kernels yet. Unless you have a machine that you hate that you can test with. making a kernel from source can be tricky and takes some getting used to.

A good place to get rpm's from is
http://www.rpmfind.net/linux/RPM/ just type in kernel and look for your red hat version. Again only download and install a rpm. Stay away from the .src tar's. Basically anything with a .src in it.

by vida

That is good to know! I read the advisory from up2date and it said to install the quota 3.06-9.7 from RHSA-2003-187 before applying the update. Other than that - the 2.4.20-x kernels are touted to be pretty safe/easy - I'll give a go tonight.
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