On Sun, 2005-01-30 at 16:18 +0000, Max wrote: > Dear All, > > Is it possible to change the Linux kernel in a Debian installation without > having to do a complete reinstall? Yes. > I have e version ok Knoppix to hand so I'm feeling quite brave. I read a > vague report that the kernel is just an ordinary file in some specific > location, and it's possible to copy the old kernel to a backup directory > for safe keeping, put a new kernel in said specific location, reboot and > presto! Backup directory? No. Multiple kernels on disk at the same time? Yes. Of course, only one can be active at any one moment. $ uname -r 2.6.10n $ dir /boot/vmlin* -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1069005 2004-02-18 23:47 /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.24 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1289623 2005-01-28 13:48 /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.10 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1663308 2004-02-17 18:20 /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.2 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1290225 2004-02-29 01:00 /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.3 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1268923 2004-06-17 14:35 /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.6 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1281463 2004-07-11 16:09 /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.7 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1289009 2004-08-19 21:43 /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.8 -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1265506 2004-12-30 15:14 /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.9 $ dir /lib/modules total 24 drwxr-xr-x 5 root root 4096 2005-01-11 17:55 . drwxr-xr-x 9 root root 8192 2005-01-28 13:22 .. drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 2005-01-28 13:48 2.6.10n drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 2004-12-11 22:15 2.6.8 drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 2005-01-10 05:36 2.6.9n > Finally, is there anything I should be aware of before changing the > kernel? The only reason prompting me to change the kernel is that I have > a bit of software the documentation of which states that the kernel should > be v2.4 or later. For instance, does a change in kernel usually go hand > in hand with changing some other part of a system? Sometimes, but not necessarily. Are you running Debian 3.0 or Debian Sarge? -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Ron Johnson, Jr. Jefferson, LA USA PGP Key ID 8834C06B I prefer encrypted mail. "You may either win your peace or buy it: win it, by resistance to evil; buy it, by compromise with evil." John Ruskin
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