Arch Linux

snack

Member

From: Italy

Registered: 2009-01-13

Posts: 876

kernel26-lts side-by-side with kernel26/linux: is it possible?

Hi, I was wondering if it is possible to have a system with two kernel versions installed, namely kernel26-lts and kernel26 or the new linux package. I know they can be  installed at the same time but my question is about other packages which may require a certain kernel version to work.
I tried to do it starting  from a system with stock kernel26. I installed kernel26-lts, recompiled catalyst (11.7) and booted into lts. Everything seemed to work fine, even KDE 4.7 loaded smoothly. But then I began to experience  network hangups, which disappeared when I reverted to kernel26. So I argued  that meybe some network-related  package in my up-to-date system won't work wit kernel 2.6.32...
Can anyone shed some light on this topic? How can I find which packages in my system requires a certain kernel version? I'd like to have pre-2.6.35 kernel on my laptop due to the absence of the famous power-save bugs recently spotted by phoronix, but also be able to test and enjoy the newer kernels when I'm plugged to AC...

brebs

Member

Registered: 2007-04-03

Posts: 3,742

Re: kernel26-lts side-by-side with kernel26/linux: is it possible?

Your kernel headers (in e.g. /usr/include/linux/) should be no more recent than the oldest kernel version that you intend to use, otherwise glibc (a critical package) might get upset by API changes that have occurred, if it's been recompiled against more recent headers.

Edit: This is a warning for Linux in general.

Last edited by brebs (2011-07-31 12:46:12)