What's System/Configuration/Packaging/Mandriva Update equivalent in the Console?

As root run:

# urpmi.update -a
# urpmi --update --auto-select

The graphical update tool will not automatically update the kernel and either will the above command. To update the kernel from the command line run:

# urpmi --update kernel

See man urpmi for a more detailed discussion.

Hi, saw your post and wanted to ask a question.
I am running Mandrake 10.1 and have just updated the kernel using the Gui Mandrake control centre from 2.6.8.1-12mdk to 2.6.8.1-26mdk which was about a 180 Mb install. Everything went OK, I think.
When I enter the console and type uname -r I get 2.6.8.1-12mdk and there is no ref to 2.6.8.1-26mdk in /boot/vmlinuz and initrd.img files.( I use lilo to boot)

Do I still have to run
urpmi --update kernel from the command line to install the updated kernel ?

I thought the GUI would do that from the "install" button - it said it had installed all packages successfully.

I remain somewhat confused !

Did you reboot after installing the new kernel?

Yes, indeed I did !

Post the output of:

$ rpm -qa | grep kernel

That will tell you exactly what kernel packages you installed. It sounds like you installed the kernel source rather than the kernel to me. 180MB is too big for a kernel but about right for the kernel source; kernels are usually in the neighborhood of 20 to 30MB. The above output will tell for sure.

rpm -qa | grep kernel
ati-kernel-2.6.8.1-12mdk-3.14.1-1mdk
hsfmodem-kernel-2.6.8.1-12mdk-6.03.00lnxt04082400full-1mdk
kernel-2.4.27.0.pre2.1mdk-1-1mdk
ati-kernel-2.4.27-0.pre2.1mdk-3.14.1-1mdk
kernel-multimedia-2.4.22.21mm.2mdk-1-1mdk
kernel-source-2.6-2.6.8.1-26mdk
hsfmodem-kernel-2.4.27-0.pre2.1mdk-6.03.00lnxt04082400full-1mdk
kernel-2.6.8.1.12mdk-1-1mdk

so what is the real difference between the kernel source (issued as part of a security update) and the kernel ?

I am sure you are correct but I would like to understand the difference.

The kernel-source is a special package that contains just the source code for the kernel, since you often need the source code to compile and install certain drivers (eg. Nvidia). The kernel package is the actual compiled kernel that runs your computer. Since the kernel doesn't get updated automatically with Mandriva I don't think you can update it through the gui - try the commands suggested above in a terminal window as root.

Ok, your kernel and kernel-source don't match. You can't really upgrade a kernel because it can hose your system. The best way to install a new kernel is to do
A list of available kernels will be listed, install the one you want.

Thanks guys for the information, I am understanding a bit more.

Don't really understand the techy term "hose" but I guess it means "screw up" in broad terms.

Would you recomend a newby like me to upgrade to a later kernel or "if it ain't broke, don't fix it !" ??????? Does urpmi make it easy ? (infallable)

Install the kernel package that matches your kernel source if you want; it shouldn't hose anything. What it will do is put a separate entry in lilo for the new kernel and leave your old kernel(s) and their entries in lilo intact. You can choose to boot with the new kernel or any of the older ones. However I notice that in the 2.6.8.1-12mdk series of kernels you have two specialized varieties, an ati and an hsfmodem variety. You are not likely to have those available in the updated 2.6.8.1-26mdk series. If you want the ati or hsfmodem driver modules available with the new kernel, you will probably have to compile them from source. If your not comfortable doing that or if you have no idea what I'm talking about, I would just stick with your old kernel.
You can leave the 2.6.8.1-26mdk kernel source installed or uninstall it if you like; it won't hurt anything unless you are compiling kernel modules, recompiling your kernel or otherwise hacking your kernel.