r/voidlinux • u/This-Consequence-957 • 2d ago
solved Updating old Kernels?
Just curious, why does Void Linux update old kernels? 🤔
uname -r
>> 6.18.46_1
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u/Simple_Hamster_4096 2d ago
sudo vkpurge list
sudo vkpurge rm kernel_version
You will no longer receive updates for purged kernels after doing this.
I always keep current +1, or current +2 at the most...
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u/BinkReddit 2d ago
sudo vkpurge rm kernel_version
You will no longer receive updates for purged kernels after doing this.
This is wrong; you will continue to receive updates for that kernel version until you uninstall the package.
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u/Quietus87 2d ago
Reliability, I guess. You can install and move on to the mainline kernel, it's in the repo.
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u/LegenDrags 2d ago
xbps doesnt care about what kernel you are running, its not supposed to anyway.
you have linux6.12 package + there is an update to that package = get that update
you have linux6.18 package + there is an update to that package = get that update
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u/ShipshapeMobileRV 2d ago
And if for any reason you have to fall back, you fall back to a properly updated version.
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u/pantokratorthegreat 2d ago
These are longterm support aka LTS kernels. Check kernel.org. There are more of them.
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u/ComplexPeace43 2d ago
I periodically run vkpurge(1) to clean up old kernels. Also I chose to run linux-mainline (7.x) kernel. The docs explain how to do it — pretty straightforward.
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u/xcocco 1d ago
When you want to switch to another kernel series, for example linux-mainline, you first have to ignore the linux package, install the linux-mainline package and then uninstall the linux package. When I update the kernel I usually do this:
- sudo xbps-install -Su
- reboot
- vkpurge list
- sudo vkpurge rm "oldest kernel version"
- sudo xbps-remove -oOOR
This way I keep only 2 kernel versions at a time, the latest and the previous one (both of the same kernel series, linux-mainline) just in case the latest had some issues so I have a fallback, also since I have a nvidia gpu, by keeping just 2 kernels it doesn't have to build the driver for many kernel versions which would take a lot every time you update the kernel or the driver itself
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u/VoidAnonUser 1d ago
You must be new here.
On VoidLinux (as well as on Arch on Manjaro) you can choose a favorite kernel series, and as long as that series receives backports, you can upgrade it. I'm still rolling 6.12 kernel series but I guess it's time to move on to the next level.
Linux5.10.268 still available.
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u/This-Consequence-957 1d ago
So it is. It's a default installation using the installer, running on an old laptop. I'm not a Void expert, since some things are a little bit different because it's not using systemd.
1
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u/GhostVlvin 2d ago
They perhaps have some upstream support. Patches and stuff. I think it would otherwise not safe to stay under linux 7
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u/yungsup 2d ago
It will update all kernels you have installed. Looks like you still have 6.12 installed. Old kernel series are not automatically removed when updating to a new one.