I installed Redhat9 yesterday and did the update today, while doing this it said something about not updating kernel. I think a default is set not to update the kernel and wondered if this is because its not something you should should do if like me your new to linux or should i update it anyway?

Pretty new to Linux myself - I just update them anyway - I think if the second number is an odd number in the Kernel it's a development release and if it's even then it's a stable one - that's about I all I know and I maybe wrong.

If you're using GRUB as a bootloader it'll automactically add it to the start-up menu so you can decide to boot to it or back to the older version if you have problems.

I guess it's like any update of software - there's always the potential it could cause problems - but I've never had any so I just update whenever up2date announces them.

Thanks I will give it a go and see what happens.
New one ends in 9 perhaps i will leave it for now.

if you are using redhat network all releases are stable Looking_Lost is right for the releases of kernel.org or other sites in redhat releases the same kernel 2.4.20 in redhat 9 diffrent builts last one is 9 2.4.20-9
if you have any driver installed by third party vendor when u update the kernel you have to install thm again. if not you can update it safely.