Does using the lts kernel bring real interest for desktop use?

Jackseller · 2021-12-22 15:59:53

Hi,

Since kernel 5.15.8 there is a bug with Holtek gaming mouse. The mouse no longer works.

The other problem is that this also affects the lts-kernel since version 5.10.85.
And the fix is not yet applied in the kernels released today.
I am using a lts-kernel to benefit from a stable, reliable and secure system.

So I would like to have your point of view : what is the point of using a lts-kernel if it is to end up with the same problem as the current version (at least in this kind of case) ?

seth · 2021-12-22 16:13:24

I once had a car accident despite the fasted safety-belt. I'd like to know what't the point of using safety-belts if you can still have accidents.

loqs · 2021-12-22 19:48:01

Both kernels now have the fix applied. Upstream stable maintainers apply fixes to all applicable stable kernels.

squalou · 2021-12-28 15:30:01

If I may, I once upon a time had the exact same question.

I soon discovered that 'LTS' also had sort of weekly lifecycle, which is far too often to my taste anyway.

Finally this is what I do as a stability solution :

disclaimer 1 : My hardware is well supported with 'older' kernels already
disclaimer 2 : I od not pretend you should do this. Just sharing personal experiment.
disclaimer 3 : I'm among those old guys that used to compile their own kernels back in 1995, that may explain why I don't really care about having the very latest patch. Bad habit ? good habit ? who am I to know :-)

- I do have both LTS and regular kernel installed, I default boot to regular
- I do have both in "IgnorePkg" array

I manually explicitly upgrade them, and not at the same time.

One may argue that "oh my god you don't have the latest security fixes"
... and of course this all requires to be a bit serious about manual upgrade schedules.
But anyway : my laptop is suspended, never rebooted, for weeks. So all in all, it works great for me.

In the end : I always have at least one working option.

Last edited by squalou (2021-12-28 15:31:04)

Trilby · 2021-12-28 16:53:02

squalou wrote:

One may argue that "oh my god you don't have the latest security fixes"

Nah. Given that server admins strive for, and can generally achieve many months of uptime (or more) they are by-definition often using kernels that are many many months old regardless of how often they update (notwithstanding a kexec).

Certainly there are pros and cons to everything. But anyone who thinks one needs to update the kernel (and reboot into the kernel) frequently is just delusional. Doing kernel upgrades on your schedule is a very sound approach.

zpg443 · 2021-12-28 17:13:10

I switched to the lts kernel after having issues with intel integrated graphics (i915, Haswell) with latest kernels and the issue was not resolving over multiple updates. Since switching, not a single problem. Lts is demonstrably more stable, at least for this desktop use case.

Arch Linux

#1 2021-12-22 15:59:53

Does using the lts kernel bring real interest for desktop use?

#2 2021-12-22 16:13:24

Re: Does using the lts kernel bring real interest for desktop use?

#3 2021-12-22 19:48:01

Re: Does using the lts kernel bring real interest for desktop use?

#4 2021-12-28 15:30:01

Re: Does using the lts kernel bring real interest for desktop use?

#5 2021-12-28 16:53:02

Re: Does using the lts kernel bring real interest for desktop use?

#6 2021-12-28 17:13:10

Re: Does using the lts kernel bring real interest for desktop use?

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