apt-get upgrade does not upgrade my kernel

halfpower · 12-09-2005, 10:51 AM

Why is my kernel not upgraded when I run the following command?

Code:

apt-get upgrade

Is the kernel not a package?

dastrike · 12-09-2005, 11:16 AM

The kernel packages are named:

In Debian 3.1 stable 'sarge':
kernel-image-2.4-...
kernel-image-2.6-...
In Debian testing/unstable 'etch'/'sid':
linux-image-...

Where the "..." part is some suffix for the various available kernels.
To see a list of all avaialble kernels, execute
In Debian 3.1 stable 'sarge':

Code:

apt-cache search kernel-image- --names-only

In Debian testing/unstable 'etch'/'sid':

Code:

apt-cache search linux-image- --names-only

To install the latest kernel of a particular hardware optimization, install the metapackage that doesn't specify any exact kernel version

E.g. the latest available Linux 2.6 kernel for AMD Athlon/AthlonXP/Duron/Sempron(32-bit) (and also Athlon 64 systems if you want to run a 32-bit kernel on them) systems on Debian 'sarge': kernel-image-2.6-k7

E.g. The latest available Linux kernel on Intel Pentium 4 systems supporting hyper-threading on Debian 'etch' or 'sid':
linux-image-686-smp

... and so on. Just install the kernel package of your liking.

victorh · 12-09-2005, 11:33 AM

When you execute

Code:

apt-get upgrade

you will also upgrade the kernel if there's a new one available for your release.

What happened next is more tricky, the new kernel is installed in the /boot directory, so in order to use the new kernel you have to edit either the file menu.lst in GRUB or the appropriate one in LILO. When you are upgrading the kernel you must reboot in order to load the new one.

If you're using specific modules for the kernel (nvida module in my case) you must install also the headers of the new kernel and compile again the modules that you have. Only then you'll be using the new kernel.

michapma · 12-09-2005, 12:11 PM

In general, you are more likely to get help if you give pertinent information, such as what version of Debian you're running. It also lightens the burden of anybody who responds to your question; they won't have to guess the missing info and can provide more concise answers.

You will save yourself a lot of time and questions here:
http://www.debian.org/doc/user-manuals#apt-howto

divukman · 12-09-2005, 07:32 PM

pardon my ignorance

but one question please, does "apt-get upgrade" upgrade custom kernels as well ? I think not, but have to ask .

michapma · 12-11-2005, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by divukman

pardon my ignorance

but one question please, does "apt-get upgrade" upgrade custom kernels as well ? I think not, but have to ask .

http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/de...kernel.en.html
http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/re...kernel-details

Have fun.