Is it possible to install 2 kernels ?

rangalo · 2009-12-21 13:03:14

I have following questions about my newly installed arch system.

1. Is it possible to have 2 kernels ? So that i can test the new one and then get rid of the older if I find the new one stable.

If yes, please point me to the documentation.

2. If it is not possible, how can I avoid possible system breakdowns due to the untested (untested only for my system) kernel ?

thanks & regards,
Hardik

Mikko777 · 2009-12-21 13:06:45

1: yes.

Points to wiki. --> wiki

Recommends kernel26-lts for backup kernel.

jac · 2009-12-21 13:09:00

1: Yes, if each kernel has a differnt name. You can either install another kernel like the -lts one, or you can build your own custom one with a different name. To do that, search on the wiki for "Custom kernel", the wiki is a very good resource.

2: Also, if you don't want to go that far in case of something going wrong you can reinstall the older kernel from your cache if you haven't cleared it. To do that you would boot the live cd, chroot into your installation, then issue a pacman -U on the old kernel package. A tutorial on how to chroot into your installation can be found on the wiki page for dealing with kernel panics: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Kernel_Panics

edit: I type very slowly

Last edited by jac (2009-12-21 13:09:55)

kaaposc · 2009-12-21 13:33:01

Going on with topic "kernels" - is there any good resource where to check every kernel config entry? I mean, I know my hardware, so enabling such device drivers as ath5k or snd_intel_hda is not a problem. Questions arise on various kernel features some of which give poor description. Or is Google my only friend in kernel configuration?

jelly · 2009-12-21 14:50:46

It's possible, just install another along the standard kernel and edit grubs menu.lst

broch · 2009-12-21 18:20:30

currently I have five kernels installed.
I don't use PKGBUILDs as for me they are hopelessly convoluted (not that there is much to do about this). Whatever method you would use you need to change one line in .config file
CONFIG_LOCALVERSION="-custom_name"
If you would use PKGBUILD, you need to modify PKGBUILD file too.

otherwise you will overwrite one kernel by another.

tavianator · 2009-12-21 20:00:18

kaaposc wrote:

Going on with topic "kernels" - is there any good resource where to check every kernel config entry? I mean, I know my hardware, so enabling such device drivers as ath5k or snd_intel_hda is not a problem. Questions arise on various kernel features some of which give poor description. Or is Google my only friend in kernel configuration?

The default arch config is pretty good in most cases. If you want a minimal configuration, you can try "make localmodconfig" and friends to generate one, but double-check it.

rangalo · 2010-02-11 21:33:14

I tried this twice without success. I don't know which variable to modify in PKDBUILD script.

Can anybody suggest ?

EVRAMP · 2010-02-12 20:35:00

I think changing pkgname=('kernel26' 'kernel26-firmware' 'kernel26-headers') to e.g. pkgname=('kernel26-custom' 'kernel26-firmware-custom' 'kernel26-headers-custom') is the easiest way.

Arch Linux

#1 2009-12-21 13:03:14

Is it possible to install 2 kernels ?

#2 2009-12-21 13:06:45

Re: Is it possible to install 2 kernels ?

#3 2009-12-21 13:09:00

Re: Is it possible to install 2 kernels ?

#4 2009-12-21 13:33:01

Re: Is it possible to install 2 kernels ?

#5 2009-12-21 14:50:46

Re: Is it possible to install 2 kernels ?

#6 2009-12-21 18:20:30

Re: Is it possible to install 2 kernels ?

#7 2009-12-21 20:00:18

Re: Is it possible to install 2 kernels ?

#8 2010-02-11 21:33:14

Re: Is it possible to install 2 kernels ?

#9 2010-02-12 20:35:00

Re: Is it possible to install 2 kernels ?

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