Kernel Update Questions

gentisle · 08-15-2011, 12:53 PM

LinuxMint 10 amd64/Gnome. All other updates applied.

I've read that updating kernels is dangerous. However, Webmin and Ubuntu Tweak both list:

Code:

linux-generic            2.6.35.30.38
linux-headers-generic    2.6.35.30.38
linux-image-generic      2.6.35.30.38

As possible updates. My question is does it matter which program I use to update the kernel (i.e., is one relatively safer than another)? If I
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
It reports that 3 packages were with held.

I could continue to ignore this, but I wouldn't mind having the kernel updated if it will make something better. Thanks.

TobiSGD · 08-15-2011, 12:58 PM

I don't know why a kernel update should be dangerous, as long as you keep the old kernels installed, so that you can use them in case of failure. It doesn't matter which package manager you use for the upgrade.

gentisle · 08-15-2011, 01:37 PM

Thanks. Will do immediately, now if only I could get someone to figure out if my video problem is codecs or something else.

win32sux · 08-15-2011, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gentisle

It reports that 3 packages were with held.

In such cases, use apt-get dist-upgrade. I wouldn't say that updating kernels is "dangerous", although there's clearly a certain amount of risk that you (or your distributor) will break something. That's why we take precautions (such as keeping the old kernel around just in case) and also stick to kernel packages which have received a fair amount of QA.

gentisle · 08-15-2011, 02:59 PM

OK, I applied

Code:

apt-get dist-upgrade

and we'll see how things go. Hopefully, all will be well. Thanks.

TobiSGD · 08-15-2011, 03:01 PM

Don't forget that you have to reboot to use the updated kernels.

gentisle · 08-15-2011, 03:05 PM

Yeah, I knew to reboot, and now uname says,

Code:

2.6.35-30-generic #56-Ubuntu SMP Mon Jul 11 20:01:08 UTC 2011

Guess we'll see how things go. Thanks again.