Kernels and more kernels

Linux Mint
1

First let me say, I like Linux Mint and and it is super stable.
But why so many kernels installs? I had not run apt autoremove for awhile and when I did, 11 kernels updates were removed.

Removing linux-modules-5.15.0-79-generic (5.15.0-79.86) …
Removing linux-modules-5.15.0-82-generic (5.15.0-82.91) …
Removing linux-modules-5.15.0-83-generic (5.15.0-83.92) …
Removing linux-modules-5.15.0-84-generic (5.15.0-84.93) …
Removing linux-modules-5.15.0-86-generic (5.15.0-86.96) …
Removing linux-modules-5.15.0-87-generic (5.15.0-87.97) …
Removing linux-modules-5.15.0-88-generic (5.15.0-88.98) …
Removing linux-modules-5.15.0-89-generic (5.15.0-89.99) …
Removing linux-modules-5.15.0-91-generic (5.15.0-91.101) …
Removing linux-modules-5.15.0-92-generic (5.15.0-92.102) …
Removing linux-modules-5.15.0-97-generic (5.15.0-97.107) …

They were all major kernel 5.15 and I suppose small updates from 79 thru 97.
I just wonder why so many baby steps. Was 5.15.0-101 (the current kernel) so
different or had so many updates that it was not a good idea to go from 5.15.0-79 straight
to 5.15.0-101?

Is it the logic of taking the baby kernel steps that keeps Linux stable?

3 Likes
2

Hi Howard,
Each kernel add or fixes one or more or bugs that are detected and a new version is distributed. that’s why you have so many kernels. Check out these log files:
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git/log/?h=linux-5.15.y

I don’t know much more about kernels.
Maybe some of you know if they have a deadline for being put into production.

Jorge

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3

Hi Howard,
Just for info…in Linux MINT in the mintUpdate app under “automization” there is a possibility to automatically remove old kernels. I think it just leaves the n-1 kernel on the system to have the posibility to step back in case of problems.

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