[SOLVED] vmlinuz and initrd missing from package manager

yonnieboy · 07-26-2018, 05:31 PM

Cannot update kernel. Installing newer linux-header does not update the laptop. Present kernel is 4.4.0-131. I can install 4.15.0-13 does not update the laptop. Package manager is missing the vmlinuz package and the initrd package for all kernels, everything. Are these auto-generated? By what? Seems like in the past I could install/remove these via Synaptic.

Please advise

hazel · 07-27-2018, 01:04 PM

The initrd is locally generated by a shell script. I think it's called something like mkinitramfs or mkinitrd. But the vmlinuz-x.y.z should be there.

You can see what files a package actually contains by using the properties tab in synaptic.

yonnieboy · 07-27-2018, 07:05 PM

So how do you look at properties of packages that aren't there? Searching for vmlinuz pulls up nothing, as in blank page. Where can I go to download the full repo on this? How about an apt-get something?

Had an idea about looking at linux-image-x.y.z, installed it from synaptic. Laptop immediately asked for a reboot and after reboot am now running a much later version. Still no vmlinuz in synaptic, but my laptop is fixed.

fyi hazel--my first office computer was an Altos

hazel · 07-28-2018, 12:40 AM

Ah, it was a simple misunderstanding then. The package name is indeed Linux-x.y.z. vmlinuz-x.y.z is a file, not a package. You will find it installed in your /boot directory.

yonnieboy · 07-31-2018, 01:37 AM

It seems like each distribution has their own method for kernel updates which change without notice, or it is me that can't remember. I find it frustrating. The distro I use most doesn't have linux-image available in the package manager whereas ubuntu won't update via the kernel. Maddening!

hazel · 07-31-2018, 02:17 AM

Debian never really updates a kernel. It installs the new one alongside the old and modifies GRUB accordingly. Your default boot now gives you the new kernel. If it doesn't work, you can reboot to GRUB's "Advanced options" and it will give you a sub-menu with the old kernel on it. I think all Debian derivatives do the same. It's a safety feature.

If you have an even older kernel left over from a previous update, that goes on the list for autoremoval.