On Thu, Jul 15, 2004 at 11:42:50AM -0600, Paul E Condon wrote: > On Tue, Jul 13, 2004 at 09:50:29PM +0530, Didar Hussain wrote: > > Hi, > > > > I'm a new Debian user. I want to know how do kernel updates > > happen? > > > > Let me explain: > > > > I've installed "Woody" on my PC. The kernel is the default 2.4.18-bf2.4 > > There have been certain recent kernel vulnerabilities. I'm sure > > these got patched. Then why is that when I do a `apt-get upgrade' > > I do not see any kernel update mentioned? Will I see it only if > > I install one of the optimized kernel-image packages? > > > > Kernel images are never installed 'automatically'. To be kept informed > of security problems with kernel-images in Stable (currently Woody), > you should subscribe to the security-announce list. If there ever is a > recognized problem, this list will tell you of it, and what to do > about it. If you just want to try a different kernel, because you are > curious, then you should choose a particular one to download and > try. The on-screen instructions that are displayed by the install > script of a kernel-image package are pretty explicit as to what you > need to do. Be aware that the script makes changes to lilo or grub > (whichever you use I think, but maybe only lilo), and your new kernel > is not placed in service until you reboot your computer. Many serious > Debian users would be seriously put out, if Debian were to create a > script that automatically rebooted a computer. Hence, there is no > automatic upgrade of the kernel. But the manual upgrade is easy. > > Also the changes to lilo that are made by the script should make it > possible to boot your old kernel again, if it turns out that you > don't like the behavior of the new kernel. If you have made any > changes to your lilo.conf, you should check the script changes and > fix any incompatibilities before you attempt to reboot. > > Do not be put off by these warnings. Mere mortals like me can do it.
Correct me if I am wrong, but a big point here is that a new kernel is installed *in addition* to the old kernel, and does not replace it. This makes a boot-time choice of kernel possible, and provides a graceful fallback in case of trouble. -- hendrik > > -- > Paul E Condon > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > -- > To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] > -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
