strange kernel update list

zoran119 · 01-06-2012, 11:27 PM

hi all,

my desktop wants me to update the following:

Code:

kernel-firmware-2.6.37.6-noarch-2.txz
kernel-generic-smp-2.6.37.6_smp-i686-2.txz
kernel-headers-2.6.37.6_smp-x86-2.txz
kernel-huge-smp-2.6.37.6_smp-i686-2.txz
kernel-modules-smp-2.6.37.6_smp-i686-2.txz
kernel-source-2.6.37.6_smp-noarch-2.txz

which is a bit strange because i haven't noticed this on my laptop (both run 13.37). also, this seems a bit short:

Code:

$ ls -l /var/log/packages/kernel-*2.6.37*
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    940 Aug 14 20:22 /var/log/packages/kernel-generic-2.6.37.6-i486-2
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    941 Aug 14 20:22 /var/log/packages/kernel-huge-2.6.37.6-i486-2
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 187347 Aug 14 20:22 /var/log/packages/kernel-modules-2.6.37.6-i486-2

the list is a bit longer on the laptop:

Code:

$ ls -l /var/log/packages/kernel-*2.6.37*
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    6132 Jan  5 06:56 /var/log/packages/kernel-firmware-2.6.37.6-noarch-2
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root     965 Jan  5 06:56 /var/log/packages/kernel-generic-2.6.37.6-i486-2
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    1092 Jan  5 06:56 /var/log/packages/kernel-generic-smp-2.6.37.6_smp-i686-2
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   21068 Jan  5 06:57 /var/log/packages/kernel-headers-2.6.37.6_smp-x86-2
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root     966 Jan  5 06:56 /var/log/packages/kernel-huge-2.6.37.6-i486-2
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    1093 Jan  5 06:56 /var/log/packages/kernel-huge-smp-2.6.37.6_smp-i686-2
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  187374 Jan  5 06:56 /var/log/packages/kernel-modules-2.6.37.6-i486-2
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  200725 Jan  5 06:56 /var/log/packages/kernel-modules-smp-2.6.37.6_smp-i686-2
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 2310381 Jan  5 06:58 /var/log/packages/kernel-source-2.6.37.6_smp-noarch-2

there are a couple of things that are different on the desktop but they don't explain (to me anyway) the lack of kernel packages on the desktop: i installed 2.6.38.4 and have compiled some custom kernels. did 2.6.38.4 upgrade one of the previous kernels?

anyway, the ultimate question is: should i update the kernel packages i'm being asked to update? or is something messed up with my kernels?

allend · 01-07-2012, 01:40 AM

It seems that you are using slackpkg with a mirror set to slackware-13.37,
Slackpkg checks the packages you have installed against the official tree that includes the 2.6.37.6 kernel.
Having installed the 2.6.38.4 kernel, slackpkg is now offering to replace that with the official kernel.
You can keep your 2.6.38.4 kernel and clear the slackpkg offers by blacklisting the kernel packages in /etc/slackpkg/blacklist.

You could also update to the 2.6.38.7 kernel by updating to slackware-current. Change the mirror from slackware-13.37 to slackware-current in /etc/slackpkg/mirrors.

wildwizard · 01-07-2012, 03:26 AM

DANGER Will Robinson DANGER

1. There are 2 completely different kernels it is looking at there one is SMP the other is not
2. If your running your own kernel build you should blacklist everything kernel related in /etc/slackpkg/blacklist
3. Even if you aren't you should avoid automatic upgrades of the kernel as you could end up with a system that doesn't boot
4. The recommended configuration for slackpkg blacklists the kernel but it is not the default configuration

What should you do?

open /etc/slackpkg/blacklist
and uncomment the lines kernel-* as per the instructions