- Jan 14, 2015
- 1,761
Hi All,
Below is how one could choose to upgrade the current Linux Kernel to latest available version.
Note that the only thing that is not covered here is the manual Kernel compiling method which can be used on Fedora/OpenSUSE/Gentoo based systems.
Both Fedora and OpenSUSE ship with a specific Kernel type. At time of writting this, Fedora should be already on Kernel 3.17, if not it is soon to be, as it was released with 3.16. OpenSUSE 13.2 was released with 3.16 as well. On usual updates of the distro (not to confuse with upgrade), a new version is released by the relevant distro teams accordingly, improving stability, hardware and software support etc.
The same applies to Ubuntu based systems, Arch Linux and up to a certain extend Debian (Debian stable however not so much at all).
Cannot talk about Gentoo as I have not used much of it and it is a hard system to get the hang of it.
So here are the methods I have used so far, broken down by its based system.
IMPORTANT: Please ensure you are running as ROOT. Commands are with that in mind. If you want to be under ROOT, issue the SUDO command or SU - before typing the main commands.
Ubuntu family and derivatives (Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Xubuntu/Lubuntu - linux Lite - Ubuntu Mate - Elementary OS Luna etc):
Easiest way to manually upgrade your Kernel is:
Go to the Ubuntu Kernel PPA Mainline site, look for latest version (at time of writing, latest stable release (not Release Candidate (RC)) was 3.18 Vivid.
Go inside the link and download manually the following packages (note that with new releases numbers will change but you must have both Headers and Image):
linux-headers-3.18.3-031803-generic_3.18.3-031803.201501161810_i386.deb
linux-headers-3.18.3-031803_3.18.3-031803.201501161810_all.deb
linux-image-3.18.3-031803-generic_3.18.3-031803.201501161810_i386.deb
NOTE: I went with 32bit for this example.
Once downloaded, open the terminal of your choice and do the following commands:
Note: Downloads is assuming thats the location where you have downloaded the deb files. Make sure no older or other kernel deb files present.
Once the above is done, simply reboot and you will have the choice to then boot up on the new kernel.
Debian 7 Wheezy and any variant (Crunchbang Linux):
Easiest method is to update it via Backports to Testing branch. You will need to add the Backports sources. Once done:
Do the following commands on the terminal of your choice:
Reboot and voila.
The above command also applies to stable version (should there be any updates).
Another method, which is the one I have always used is to use Liquorix Project Kernel.
To do so, open a terminal and manually edit the sources list (or simply add it on synaptic): Below is the liquorix source list, which usually you would disable if you manually add it to the existing source list by using ## instead of #.
Make sure that the list has:
# Mirrors:
#
# Unit193 - France
# deb http://mirror.unit193.net/liquorix sid main
# deb-src http://mirror.unit193.net/liquorix sid main
#
# Liquorix - Cloudfront Global CDN
# deb http://cdn.liquorix.net/debian sid main
# deb-src http://cdn.liquorix.net/debian sid main
Then, run in a terminal this command to install the keyring since all files from Liquiorix are signed:
Now to install it Run in a terminal the following command and then reboot:
For Arch Linux, I suggest you to visit the Arch Wiki accordingly.
Bonus: You can also go Liquorix kernel path to install it in Ubuntu Based Systems, but its slightly more different and well, use it at your own risk:
Issue the following commands in your terminal:
Then run the following commands:
Hope this helps anyone who has any queries in upgrading kernels.
Below is how one could choose to upgrade the current Linux Kernel to latest available version.
Note that the only thing that is not covered here is the manual Kernel compiling method which can be used on Fedora/OpenSUSE/Gentoo based systems.
Both Fedora and OpenSUSE ship with a specific Kernel type. At time of writting this, Fedora should be already on Kernel 3.17, if not it is soon to be, as it was released with 3.16. OpenSUSE 13.2 was released with 3.16 as well. On usual updates of the distro (not to confuse with upgrade), a new version is released by the relevant distro teams accordingly, improving stability, hardware and software support etc.
The same applies to Ubuntu based systems, Arch Linux and up to a certain extend Debian (Debian stable however not so much at all).
Cannot talk about Gentoo as I have not used much of it and it is a hard system to get the hang of it.
So here are the methods I have used so far, broken down by its based system.
IMPORTANT: Please ensure you are running as ROOT. Commands are with that in mind. If you want to be under ROOT, issue the SUDO command or SU - before typing the main commands.
Ubuntu family and derivatives (Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Xubuntu/Lubuntu - linux Lite - Ubuntu Mate - Elementary OS Luna etc):
Easiest way to manually upgrade your Kernel is:
Go to the Ubuntu Kernel PPA Mainline site, look for latest version (at time of writing, latest stable release (not Release Candidate (RC)) was 3.18 Vivid.
Go inside the link and download manually the following packages (note that with new releases numbers will change but you must have both Headers and Image):
linux-headers-3.18.3-031803-generic_3.18.3-031803.201501161810_i386.deb
linux-headers-3.18.3-031803_3.18.3-031803.201501161810_all.deb
linux-image-3.18.3-031803-generic_3.18.3-031803.201501161810_i386.deb
NOTE: I went with 32bit for this example.
Once downloaded, open the terminal of your choice and do the following commands:
Note: Downloads is assuming thats the location where you have downloaded the deb files. Make sure no older or other kernel deb files present.
Once the above is done, simply reboot and you will have the choice to then boot up on the new kernel.
Debian 7 Wheezy and any variant (Crunchbang Linux):
Easiest method is to update it via Backports to Testing branch. You will need to add the Backports sources. Once done:
Do the following commands on the terminal of your choice:
Reboot and voila.
The above command also applies to stable version (should there be any updates).
Another method, which is the one I have always used is to use Liquorix Project Kernel.
To do so, open a terminal and manually edit the sources list (or simply add it on synaptic): Below is the liquorix source list, which usually you would disable if you manually add it to the existing source list by using ## instead of #.
Code:
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/liquorix.list
deb http://liquorix.net/debian sid main
deb-src http://liquorix.net/debian sid mainMake sure that the list has:
# Mirrors:
#
# Unit193 - France
# deb http://mirror.unit193.net/liquorix sid main
# deb-src http://mirror.unit193.net/liquorix sid main
#
# Liquorix - Cloudfront Global CDN
# deb http://cdn.liquorix.net/debian sid main
# deb-src http://cdn.liquorix.net/debian sid main
Then, run in a terminal this command to install the keyring since all files from Liquiorix are signed:
Now to install it Run in a terminal the following command and then reboot:
Reboot and done.
For Arch Linux, I suggest you to visit the Arch Wiki accordingly.
Bonus: You can also go Liquorix kernel path to install it in Ubuntu Based Systems, but its slightly more different and well, use it at your own risk:
Issue the following commands in your terminal:
Then run the following commands:
Reboot.
Hope this helps anyone who has any queries in upgrading kernels.
