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-   -   Unable to upgrade kernel (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/unable-to-upgrade-kernel-661680/)

Toecutter 08-09-2008 07:04 PM

Unable to upgrade kernel
 
Sorry guys, I'm a noob....

Debian 4
I'm having a problem with updateing my kernel

I added

deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ lenny main
deb-src http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ lenny main

to my sources.list

When I do a apt-get update I get the following error:

E: Dynamic MMap ran out of room
E: Error occurred while processing tumiki-fighters (NewVersion1)
E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/http.us.debian.org_debian_dists_lenny_main_binary-i386_Packages
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

Can anyone help.

I did a clean server restore in case my previous manual attempt to upgrade had screwed something up so I'm running a plain Debian 4 with nothing else on it (clean).

jay73 08-09-2008 07:10 PM

Debian 4 is Etch, not Lenny. Try replacing lenny with stable.

Toecutter 08-09-2008 07:13 PM

so I can't upgrade my kernel from that source?

I am aware that debian 4 is etch, but surely the kernel is independent?

If not what repository should I use to get 2.6.26 kernel.

Thanks

jay73 08-09-2008 07:20 PM

I would imagine sid, although 2.6.26 seems extremely new even for that one. I have not really kept up with Debian of late so I can't tell for sure. Just be VERY careful mixing branches. Before you know, you can end up with a dead puppy. If you want to play safe and the kernel is all that you need, it may be time to learn how to compile your own kernels.

Toecutter 08-09-2008 07:26 PM

Jay, thanks for the prompt response.

I've actually tried twice to compile the kernel following the instructions given here http://www.howtoforge.com/kernel_com...debian_etch_p2
(except that I changed to 2.6.26 not the one in scripts)

Everything seems to work perfectly until the dreaded rebooted when the server refuses to come back to life.

Unfortunately I've not got the server 'in my hands' so to speak as it's at a hosting company.

Wish I could see what's on the console.......

BTW.
I changed the repository details to etch instead of lenny and aptitude update runs clean now, but i don't know what to do next????

My current kernel is 2.6.18-6-k7

Thanks

jay73 08-09-2008 07:37 PM

Yes, kernel compilation takes some learning and not having the hardware nearby only makes things more complicated. You should use the lspci, lsusb, lshw and lsmod commands to get information about the hardware / modules that you need.

Just to see what etch has left in store, run
aptitude search kernel | less
to explore the available options. If 2.6.18 is as high as it goes, then you are out of luck using the stable repository. You could upgrade to lenny, which was at 2.6.24 some time ago (as I said, not really keeping up with it at this time). Running sid on a server is not really recommended.

rickh 08-09-2008 08:00 PM

You're obviously not qualified to use Debian, but since you're trying to do so anyway, you'd better do some studying if you want to avoid making a royal mess. I think that's what you're going to do anyway.

You can get newer kernels for Etch from backports.org ... Look for an "Instruction" page.

Also, by the error you're getting, I'd guess that your sources.list is a disaster.

Toecutter 08-10-2008 09:40 AM

Guys,

Thanks for the advice so far....

Rick, yes you're right I'm a noob :-)

My sources.list is fine now. I was taking advice from elswhere but managed to work out that trying to get the lenny repository was screwing my aptitude update.

Once I changed the line to read etch instead of lenny all seems fine.
I took your advice re backports and have done an apt-get install on the 2.6.25 kernel.

It downloads and finishes fine, but it doesn't actually update the kernel which remains at 2.6.18-6-k7

Is there another process step I am missing???

Oh btw, I HAVE downloaded the manual and I WILL read it so I don't ask so many stupid questions :-)

Ta

rickh 08-10-2008 09:48 AM

Quote:

I took your advice re backports and have done an apt-get install on the 2.6.25 kernel.

It downloads and finishes fine, but it doesn't actually update the kernel which remains at 2.6.18-6-k7
Did you reboot?

Toecutter 08-10-2008 10:02 AM

Of course....

If I repeat the command I get the following:

air139:~# apt-get -t etch-backports install linux-source-2.6.25
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
linux-source-2.6.25 is already the newest version.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 36 not upgraded.

It's the '36 not upgraded' I don't understand.

If I execute as normal apt-get without -t and etch-backports I get:

air139:~# apt-get install linux-source-2.6.25
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
linux-source-2.6.25 is already the newest version.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.

Thanks

rickh 08-10-2008 10:12 AM

Why are you installing linux-source? Are you going to build the kernel yourself? Most people would install linux-image.

The "36 not upgraded" means that you have 36 available updates. That's an awful lot for Etch. I suspect, you have already messed up your system to the point that it's no longer Etch.

What is the output of ...
$ apt-cache policy libc6

Toecutter 08-10-2008 10:19 AM

Output is as follows:

air139:~# apt-cache policy libc6
libc6:
Installed: 2.3.6.ds1-13etch7
Candidate: 2.3.6.ds1-13etch7
Version table:
*** 2.3.6.ds1-13etch7 0
500 http://debian.mirror.server4you.net etch/main Packages
500 http://http.us.debian.org etch/main Packages
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

thanks

rickh 08-10-2008 10:24 AM

OK. That doesn't look bad. Maybe there are 36 legitimate security updates, if the system hasn't been maintained. You should be using aptitude rather than apt-get.

# aptitude keep-all
# aptitude update
# aptitude upgrade
...should get you up-to-date, then from now on just substitute "aptitude" for "apt-get" at the command line.

addux 11-18-2008 08:21 PM

I found this thread useful, I was able to install a newer kernel through backports.org. I used the same how-to to compile the latest 'custom' kernel for debian etch and everything worked flawlessly until I rebooted as well. I'm not sure why and any help with that would be greatly appreciated, I can post the error messages I received after I reboot again. But any other suggestions, for reading or whatever would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance,
kim

addux 11-18-2008 09:12 PM

Rebooted successfully into the etchandahalf kernel from backports. I feel incredibly stupid, I spent hours trying to compile my custom kernel, for the sole purpose of using my built in sd card reader. and all i needed was apt-get -t etch-backports install linux-2.6.24-etchnhalf.1-686.....my card reader works though and I think the issue I had with my 'custom' kernel is simple. Thanks


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