MX19.x What kernel should I be on?

[entropyagent]

Hi MXers

In my MX 19 install, what kernel should I be on?

I cherish the fond hope that my distro will keep my kernel up to date with the latest security fixes, but I am not sure this is happening with my semi-regular "aptitude update;aptitude full-upgrade" regimen. Is it possible that, despite this rigorous maintenance program, my machine has been stuck on the same kernel since 2019?

I recently encountered a suggestion that auto-updating kernels were added in mx19. which is quite interesting. Perhaps this was after I did my install. Or perhaps my sources have taken a wrong turning?

update to sent the repo, probably hit tomorrow.

thanks for the reports!

That could explain why the kernel wasn't auto-updating on the machine.

actually no. on mx18 the kernels do not auto-update. we added that in mx19, and even then only for the current debian stable kernel.

you can get kernel 4.9 to autoupdate on mx18 by installing the linux-image-* package that matches your architecture (i386 or amd64 for 32bit/64bit respectively).

Code: Select all

$ date
Tue 08 Jun 2021 08:15:04 PM SAST
$ sudo aptitude update
Hit http://deb.debian.org/debian buster-updates InRelease
Hit http://deb.debian.org/debian buster InRelease
Hit http://deb.debian.org/debian-security buster/updates InRelease 
Hit http://mxrepo.com/mx/repo buster InRelease 
:/var/cache/apt/archives
$ sudo aptitude search 'linux-image ?installed'
i   linux-image-4.19.0-6-amd64-unsigned       - Linux 4.19 for 64-bit PCs                           
:/var/cache/apt/archives
$ uname -a
Linux  4.19.0-6-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 4.19.67-2+deb10u2 (2019-11-11) x86_64 GNU/Linux
:/var/cache/apt/archives
$ 

Am I interpreting the words of the oracle correctly when I conclude that if I install "current debian stable kernel", I will find myself on the kernel upgrade train? Is that the one referred to in MXPI as

Code: Select all

Debian 64 bit (4.19)
Default Debian kernel Meltdown patched, 64bit
Packages to be installed: linux-image-amd64 linux-headers-amd64

Is this available via aptitude, as "linux-image-amd64"?

Code: Select all

$ sudo aptitude show linux-image-amd64
Package: linux-image-amd64               
Version: 4.19+105+deb10u11
State: not installed
Priority: optional
Section: kernel
Maintainer: Debian Kernel Team <debian-kernel@lists.debian.org>
Architecture: amd64
Uncompressed Size: 18.4 k
Depends: linux-image-4.19.0-16-amd64
Provides: linux-latest-modules-4.19.0-16-amd64
Description: Linux for 64-bit PCs (meta-package)
 This package depends on the latest Linux kernel and modules for use on PCs with AMD64, Intel 64 or
 VIA Nano processors.


:/var/cache/apt/archives

I hope someone can guide me to getting back on the security update train. Or perhaps just do me a kindness in shattering the illusion that there is such a mechanism?

[dolphin_oracle]

just add the linux-image-amd64 package and you'll get your updates. you can also do this in MX-Packageinstaller-popular apps-kernels- Debian 64bit.

the original MX19 release might not have had this. I think we added it by default in 19.1 or 19.2

[entropyfoe]

It depends on what hardware you have.

If you have newer hardware (1-3 years old) I would use the 5.10 in the MXPI. That's what I use.
It says latest version from stable, so I think it would get updated.

The 5.10 is used in the MX 19.4 ahs and it is a nice LTS kernel, so it will be supported a long time.

[entropyagent]

just add the linux-image-amd64 package and you'll get your updates. you can also do this in MX-Packageinstaller-popular apps-kernels- Debian 64bit.

the original MX19 release might not have had this. I think we added it by default in 19.1 or 19.2

Thanks for the snappy feedback. I have a possible way forward now.

I see this is included in the 19.2 announcement https://mxlinux.org/blog/mx-19-2-now-available/:

"The standard MX-19.2 releases (32 bit and 64 bit) feature the latest debian 4.19 kernel and unlike in the past the kernel will now auto-update along with debian sources by default."

Am I correct in assuming that every MX user who installed a version before 19.2, and relied on the apt system to update it, has been left on their original/install kernel, possibly for years?

[entropyfoe]

Kernel 4.19 is also a LTS kernel.
It is a top choice of older hardware.

These LTS kernels get literally >100 upgrades over their life time.
4.19.146 was released last year, no telling what number they are upto now.

[dolphin_oracle]

just add the linux-image-amd64 package and you'll get your updates. you can also do this in MX-Packageinstaller-popular apps-kernels- Debian 64bit.

the original MX19 release might not have had this. I think we added it by default in 19.1 or 19.2

Thanks for the snappy feedback. I have a possible way forward now.

I see this is included in the 19.2 announcement https://mxlinux.org/blog/mx-19-2-now-available/:

"The standard MX-19.2 releases (32 bit and 64 bit) feature the latest debian 4.19 kernel and unlike in the past the kernel will now auto-update along with debian sources by default."

Am I correct in assuming that every MX user who installed a version before 19.2, and relied on the apt system to update it, has been left on their original/install kernel, possibly for years?

Possibly. But we announced the kernel updates prior and provided the methodology in mx packageinstaller

[TTwrs]

"just add the linux-image-amd64 package and you'll get your updates."

Does this hold true when running 19.3 as a Live distro (flashdrive)?

[dolphin_oracle]

yes, although in some instances you will need to run live-kernel-updater to make the change to the live system.

[MCreaves]

I've been using the Liquorix kernel on my hardware without issues despite my hardware being kind of old. I chose it due to it being updated regularly mostly and plus I was curious.
https://liquorix.net/

[figueroa]

My 25 years says to stick with the mainstream LTS kernel that is compatible with your hardware. 4.19 gets regular backported security and feature fixes (but not enhancements) from upstream, and has 2 1/2 years left of supported life. Upgrading to newer with no compelling reason is often the path of much grief.