updating OS with patches and rebooting
 

Does linux only requires reboot during kernel patch update? What other patch update would lead to linux system to reboot? Would the patch specify system needs reboot after it's updated?

When you install a new kernel you have to reboot to switch to the new kernel. I don't know of any other update that would require you to reboot.

Whether a patch tells you when you need to reboot is determined by the person or distribution distributing the patch. Debian tells you when you need to reboot. I don't know about other distributions.

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Steve Stites