Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Dedicated Server : Kernel Upgrade - how?

[remotecontro]

I'm on a dedicated box with FastServers.net and I need to upgrade the kernel. How do I do this?

Previously I've paid them $50 to take care of it for me, but if possible, I see that this is going to come up every few weeks / months for eternity, so if its something I can do myself, I'll go that route.

Can anyone assist me?

[CLucich]

http://www.tldp.org

You'll find a lot of useful information there.

[PhMatt]

Upgrading a kernel is something we strongly recommend that you do not perform remotely. Once a kernel panic starts, you'll need to contact the DC to fix the problem regardless. If you want to learn how to do one, I would suggest a test box at your house where you can play around with the kernel without causing problems to your server, at least until you've gained a little more experience.

Thanks,

[TMS - JoseQ]

I'd have to agree with DedicatedNow... It's not just a few times that one of our customers has done a kernel upgrade only to find the server hanging and asking us to boot it back to the previous kernel for them.

It's not just knowing how to build/upgrade a kernel, but knowing how to identify all the hardware (NICs, IDE/SCSI controllers) but also file system support, and maybe networking options.

I will also advice practicing at home, and if you're testing it on your production server, do it late at night, and knowing the support people are quickly available to reboot to the previous kernel if something goes wrong.

JoseQ

[remotecontro]

Thanks - I'll let the pro's handle it

[innova]

Cmon.

Upgrading a kernel is something we strongly recommend that you do not perform remotely

If you dont wanna play with source, grab an RPM.

rpm -Uvh <newkernel>.rpm

(assuming redhat)

Then, doublecheck the lilo and /boot entries, make sure they make sense.

Then, the critical step:

/sbin/lilo
lilo -R <new kernel name>
reboot

lilo -R ensures that even if you DO screw it up, all you need is a reboot to make it back the way it was.

So much for impossible

[heyzuess]

Originally posted by innova
Cmon.



If you dont wanna play with source, grab an RPM.

rpm -Uvh <newkernel>.rpm

(assuming redhat)

Then, doublecheck the lilo and /boot entries, make sure they make sense.

Then, the critical step:

/sbin/lilo
lilo -R <new kernel name>
reboot

lilo -R ensures that even if you DO screw it up, all you need is a reboot to make it back the way it was.

So much for impossible

Best to use rpm -ivh <newkernel>.rpm else you'll overwrite you current kernel.

This leaves you the current one available as a backup.

[CLucich]

<OT>
Innova, Heyzuess..it's nice to see you guys helping this guy out. Everyone needs to learn somewhere and it's really not that complicated to learn.
</OT>
Anyway, to the OP:
The url I gave you http://www.tldp.org has very useful info and docs that you can read while learning. You're never going to learn if you don't try, eh?

[heyzuess]

Originally posted by sassSE
<OT>
Innova, Heyzuess..it's nice to see you guys helping this guy out. Everyone needs to learn somewhere and it's really not that complicated to learn.
</OT>
Anyway, to the OP:
The url I gave you http://www.tldp.org has very useful info and docs that you can read while learning. You're never going to learn if you don't try, eh?

Yeap - I do agree with you there. I've learned many things from reading countless howtos there.

You can count on (at least 9 out of 10 times) that whatever you need help with it will be covered there, at least with core Linux topics.

Assuming you are on a redhat box (hope so, since we told you how to via rpm) you also might want to read this: http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/l...ch-kernel.html for redhat 9.

[josh@fs]

remotecontro,

Just a little FYI for you. Standard rpm kernel upgrades are now free of charge at fastservers.net.

Simply open a ticket at https://www.ticketresponse.com and we will take care of it ASAP.

Thank you!

[bizness]

this thread seems to come up allot. their are many more updates you must do other then kernel. one thing i recommend is using apt-get which can update or install almost any package you need.