how are kernel updates handled?
 

I've been using Fedora for a while. I've currently have Fedora on my other computer and just recently installed edgy on my other. So far I'm very pleased especially with the package management setup.

My question is how are kernel-updates handled? Are they updated automatically? Can I choose a newer or older kernel at boot up?

Also Is it true that aptitude removes dependencies while uninstalling packages and apt-get does not? This is why I have decided to use aptitude instead of apt-get or it's front-end synaptic.

Kernel updates are processed the same as other updates, if there is a new version, you'll be prompted to download and install it.
Different versions are install with different package names tho. Eg: you can have 2.6.17-10 and 2.6.17-11 installed at the same time, and choose which to boot from GRUB. It's done by the package "linux-image-generic" (or -386, -686, etc), that will always depend on the latest available kernel

Aptitude normally does remove orphaned dependences, yes

You can choose whichever kernel you want at boot time. If you don't use the old version of the kernel, you can remove it using Aptitude. Make sure you only do this after you have made sure the new kernel is working properly :)

Aptitude is generally more advanced than apt-get. If a package is installed as a dependency, and then the package that requested it be installed is removed then the dependency package will be removed as well.

It is possible, to change this behaviour. See the man page if you are interested.

--ian

Thanks for the information. I have another question when I use aptitude to update I get the following message:

"The following packages have been automatically kept back:
linux-image-generic linux-restricted-modules-generic
The following packages have been kept back:
linux-headers-generic"

Are these packages being "kept back" for dependency issues. Or should I try to install these. And if so how if aptitude has "kept back" these packages?
Are these actually newer kernel versions that I should install. If so how do I make aptitude install these?

Thanks.

What kernel do you have installed? Run:
to find out.

When you upgrade with aptitude, do a "dist-upgrade" rather than a normal upgrade:
--Ian

upgrade simply updates the packages you have installed, dist-upgrade not only does that, but also will install any packages that those updates need. New kernels for example

"newbie@newbie-desktop:~$ uname -a
Linux newbie-desktop 2.6.17-10-generic #2 SMP Tue Dec 5 22:28:26 UTC 2006 i686 GNU/Linux"

Is using the "dist-upgrade" a normal option?
Or is it used just to install a new kernel?

You should normally use dist-upgrade.

You can search google for more info, but basically upgrade just updates each installed package to the recent version. It does not install new packages at all - if an updated package has a dependency that is not already installed then that package is not updated.

dist-upgrade, on the other hand, will intelligently resolve dependencies.

--Ian

Thanks I used the 'sudo aptitude dist-upgrade' and it updated my kernel and now I have two kernels to choose during boot.

I've been some googling and I starting to understand the debian package management tools a little more.