Re: kernel update

[Paul Morgan <paulswm@earthlink.net>]

On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 11:42:44 -0500, David Z Maze wrote:

> Paul Morgan <paulswm@earthlink.net> writes:
> 
>> On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 03:56:13 +0100, knoppix wrote:
>>
>> Kernels work differently than other debian packages.  Each kernel revision
>> is a *different* package.  So, do:
>>
>> apt-get update
>> apt-cache search kernel-image
>> apt-get install kernel-image-whatever
> 
> Or even, 'aptitude', then within that, 'l kernel-image', pick one,
> '+', 'g', 'g'.
> 
>> Also, old kernels are never removed.  To see what kernels you have
>> hanging around, ls /boot
>>
>> To remove an old kernel (it won't silently remove your current kernel):
>>
>> dpkg --purge --force-remove-essential kernel-image-whatever
> 
> Whoa, you passed a --force option to dpkg.  You probably never ever
> want to do that.  'dpkg --purge kernel-image-2.4.18' should work fine
> (kernel packages generally aren't tagged essential).  Or you can use
> '-' in  aptitude to remove kernel image packages, just like anything
> else.

Whoa - I originally got this information from Debian, so I just
double-checked:

The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ
Chapter 9 - Debian and the kernel

9.5 Can I safely de-install an old kernel package, and if so, how?

Yes. The kernel-image-NNN.prerm script checks to see whether the kernel
you are currently running is the same as the kernel you are trying to
de-install. Therefore you can remove unwanted kernel image packages using
this command:

     dpkg --purge --force-remove-essential kernel-image-NNN

(replace "NNN" with your kernel version and revision number, of course) 

-- 
....................paul

It is important to realize that any lock can be picked with a big
enough hammer.
               -- Sun System & Network Admin manual