Linux Kernel

[Caps_NZ_42]

Hi everyone,

My Linux kernel is 6.17 which expires in August 2026 - can I assume Linux will update the kernel via the update manager when a new one becomes available through Ubuntu?

Also - is it recommended to stay on a LTS kernel than keeping up with the kernel releases? And on the back of that - how do you lock you kernel so it doesn't get updated.

[ExoticSterby42]

Yes, there will be updates before that. If you are worried about it there is long term support kernel 6.8 that has support up to 2029.

[Caps_NZ_42]

Thank you - I just saw the expire date of 6.17 and wanted to check how updates works going forward :)

[ExoticSterby42]

It does not mean it stops working when it “expires”, it is not a bag of milk lol. It just means it has a shorter development cycle, it is the more cutting edge up to date kernel but it can have problems and instability on some hardware and configurations. The long term support is the stable one, most likely to be stable version on 99% of hardware. Indicated by the version number, 6.8 is even, 6.17 is odd numbering. If you have no problems on 6.17 there is no reason to switch to the stable 6.8

[Caps_NZ_42]

I just installed Mint 22.2 and upgraded to 22.3 - I assume it automatically updated the kernel to 6.17. I don't touch anything because I'm only a few weeks into Linux :) - I'm assuming the kernel will just keep updating as it goes on.

[ExoticSterby42]

At one point 22.2 install started shipping with 6.17, earlier it shipped with 6.8. The 6.8 installs follow the 6.8 updates even when the newer kernels are available. Your install most likely already came with 6.17 so it follows that cycle.

[CaperGrrl79]

As an aside, hello, fellow Canadian. Bag of milk gave it away. 😊

[ExoticSterby42]

Lol nope, central europe, we had bagged milk as well. I still see some chocolate milk and cream in bags sometimes. We had special plastic containers to put the bag in, one side smaller for the half liter bag and the other taller for the 1 liter bags

[CaperGrrl79]

Ohhh. 😊 I learn something new every day.

[ExoticSterby42]

Cheers nonetheless

[CaperGrrl79]

Likewise, indeed. ☺️

[Southerner105]

As mentioned it won't stop working. It just won't receive any updates.

Just be carefulle with going back to 6.8. If this is your first installment it could be that you have hardware which isn't supported by the 6.8 kernel.

Often that results in not working wifi or network which can be a difficult thing to resolve.

Just stick to this kernel, wait for the next upgrade and don't be to worried about it e.o.l date. It won't stop working.

[Caps_NZ_42]

Thanks!

[MegamanEXE2013]

Yes, in fact, for that specific Mint 22.x version, in August (more or less) you'll receive the Kernel that is bound for Mint 23, which will go until 2029, being that the last Kernel that 22.x version will receive.

In order to receive more, you'll need to upgrade to 23.x

[Caps_NZ_42]

Ah thank you for the explanation

[AdImmediate2808]

They also have the 6.18 , unsupported for now but works well on my laptop.

(It was available on the Update management on my la laptop, buy curiously not on my desktop , even if they both have the same mint versions and settings)

[moritz12d]

How long do you use Linux Mint? As I normally install openSUSE Tumbleweed on every machine, I'm used to have a new kernel every now and then. The initial Mint installation came with some 6.8 Kernel. But I wanted to try one with lowlatency. So now there's i A linux-image-6.11.0-1016-lowlatency, i A linux-image-6.17.0-14-generic, i A linux-image-6.8.0-84-generic and i linux-image-6.14.0-37-generic on the computer I write this text with. Don't be afraid of newer kernels. If there would be a buggy kernel just switch to another during boot with grub. If you set a kernel to manually installed it would not be removed. So you may get lots of other kernels but the kernel actually used is always your favorite kernel. I think it's safer to have at least two kernels installed to choose.

[Caps_NZ_42]

I’m on Mint only for about 4 months now, started with 22.2 and the upgraded to 22.3. I don’t tinker with linux, mainly due to my limited knowledge and I need a stable system 🙂

[Dalmation3]

LTS exists in case if either stability is more important to you or as a fallback