Slackware 64 Current: upgrading just the kernel
by jr_bob_dobbs from LinuxQuestions.org on (#554TS)
Right now I've got a comfy Slackware install, which I installed in March. All of the programs I like are in and working. Wine is running some programs that it was never able to run before: I am even able to run a few games (real games, full-on 3d games, not minesweeper). This may be the best Linux install ever!
There are two problems (which may or may not be one problem). One: lid close then open freezes the computer. Two: randomly, tapping a key to turn the screen on after being away from the keyboard causes an immediate reboot.
I'm thinking this is caused by some kernel and/or firmware bug, because I've used different Linux installs (and a windows install) on this same computer without this problem.
Since my current install is otherwise so perfectly tuned, I don't want to upgrade anything except for the kernel & firmware.
My idea is to upgrade *just* the kernel and firmware. In the past, I did this by one of two methods. One: grab a newer kernel source and rebuild the kernel & modules. Two: a fresh install of a newer version of the operating system.
The odd thing is, while I know how to compile a kernel, I don't how to upgrade a pre-compiled kernel within Slackware. Also I do not know the exact packages needed to upgrade using the Slackware packages!
Near as I can tell, if I manually get the latest Current of only the following packages, I should be able to install them, without touching the existing kernel, modules & firmware:
So my actual question is: is simply grabbing and installing those packages (from Current), generating the new initrd and then updating lilo going to achieve my goal of a new kernel in a March install of Slackware?
Thank you.
There are two problems (which may or may not be one problem). One: lid close then open freezes the computer. Two: randomly, tapping a key to turn the screen on after being away from the keyboard causes an immediate reboot.
I'm thinking this is caused by some kernel and/or firmware bug, because I've used different Linux installs (and a windows install) on this same computer without this problem.
Since my current install is otherwise so perfectly tuned, I don't want to upgrade anything except for the kernel & firmware.
My idea is to upgrade *just* the kernel and firmware. In the past, I did this by one of two methods. One: grab a newer kernel source and rebuild the kernel & modules. Two: a fresh install of a newer version of the operating system.
The odd thing is, while I know how to compile a kernel, I don't how to upgrade a pre-compiled kernel within Slackware. Also I do not know the exact packages needed to upgrade using the Slackware packages!
Near as I can tell, if I manually get the latest Current of only the following packages, I should be able to install them, without touching the existing kernel, modules & firmware:
- kernel-firmware
- kernel-generic
- kernel-huge
- kernel-modules
- kernel-source
So my actual question is: is simply grabbing and installing those packages (from Current), generating the new initrd and then updating lilo going to achieve my goal of a new kernel in a March install of Slackware?
Thank you.