Red Hat Kernel does not update on reboot.
 

Hi,

Running a Red-Hat 9 Distro using the Red Hat Notification Alert Tool for Updating. Seems to work flawlessly as far as dowloading and installing the updates. I have one 'Critical Information Alert' that states my rig is using the Kernal -2.4.20-8 and that the latest Kernel is 2.4.20-20-9 and that I should reboot to "Test' this new Kernal. Reboot does not clear out. Im using a boot disk that I made when I orginally loaded up Linux in a dual boot config with windows. Not using a boot loader as the boot CD fires the Linux up perfectly. Im Toatally guessing here, but im assuming(bad thing I know), the the boot disk is the cause? Anyhow, any body know how to fire up the latest Kernel, I would appreciate it.

Peace

Buck

Create a new bootable floppy... The command should be "mkbootdisk --device /dev/fd0 2.4.20-20-9". You might have to play with the kernel version number a bit.

Be sure to use a new floppy, not your original. That way, you can get into the system if the new one doesn't work, for some reason.

I personally would tell you to use GRUB as your boot loader, since it does a very good job when dual booting a computer, not to mention that it can fool windows to think that it is installed on the first primary partition even it was installed on an extended partition. Anyhow, you may want to look under your /boot directory, there you should have lots of information regarding your kernel version. The actual kernel is the file called vmiluz-2.4.20-xxx (where xxx is the Red Hat subpatch version), you should also have an initrd-2.4.20-xxx.img and a System.map symlink to the current System.map-2.4.20-xxx. If you left the up2date utility to upgrade the kernel it surely left your previous version there (2.4.20-8), letting you boot whichever kernel you would like.

[edit]

Changed the phrase since it can does a very good job... to
since it does a very good job

[/edit]

What boot loader do you use? grub or lilo?

If you are using lilo, you may have to edit lilo.conf to change the default boot kernel.

Thanks for your responses, im not using a boot loader at all. I just made a boot disk when I installed and transfered that to a bootable CD. I have my bios set for CD rom as first boot device. If I put the linux boot CD in the drive the rig will boot to Linux. If I leave out the CD it boots to Windows XP. Kinda Nice acutally. Im gonna try to make a new boot disk using the first Post response. I Kinda figured the boot disk im using is booting the original Kernel. Il let you know how I make out.

Much Appreciated

Peace

Buck