The Linux kernel is the core of the many distributions that make up the Linux distribution ecosystem. Without the Linux kernel, the won’t be operating systems like Ubuntu and the many others that rely on the Linux Kernel.
The kernel is what sits between the computer hardware and the software(s) that want use the hardware. The kernel is the middleman and processes request from software apps that need the machine to perform some functions or tasks.
The kernel is very important!
If you are running older Linux kernels than the computer it is running on, you can use the steps below to upgrade to the latest so supported devices can function properly.
This brief tutorial shows students and new users how to upgrade the Linux Kernel on Ubuntu 16.04 | 18.04 LTS systems.
To get started with upgrade the kernel on Ubuntu, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Update and Verify Current Kernel
Before upgrading your system kernel, you should definitely do a system backup. Since the kernel is very important, it may render your system inoperable if done incorrectly.
After backing up your system, run the commands below to update Ubuntu.
sudo apt update && sudo apt dist-upgrade && sudo apt autoremove
The command above will update all pending packages and kernel headers. and prompt you to remove unneeded applications and kernels.
Once you’ve updated, run the commands below to verify the current installed kernel.
uname -r
That should output something similar to the line below:
Output: 4.15.0-48-generic
Now that you know the current working kernel, follow the steps below to upgrade:
Step 2: Install UKUU Package
UKUU or Ubuntu Kernel Update Utility is used for installing mainline or latest versions of the Linux kernels on Ubuntu-based distributions. It doe not come with Ubuntu by default, so you’ll have to install it from a third-party PPA repository.
Run the commands below to add the repository and install from there.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:teejee2008/ppa sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install ukuu
After installing the app, go and lunch it from the Activities Overview.
Step 3: Upgrading Ubuntu Linux Kernel
Now that the app is installed, lunch it, then refresh to display all available kernels for your system. From there you can select the latest version and choose to install.
Select the latest version from the list. listed from top to bottom. Top as the latest and click Install
You’ll be prompted to type in your username and password. do it to continue. Once done, the system will have the latest kernel installed.
A notice will appear that shows you how to reload the previous kernel if something goes wrong. To apply the latest, reboot the machine and if everything goes well, your system should be running the latest.
Verify all your devices are working and those that weren’t working previously, test to see if they are.
That should do it!
Congratulations! You have successfully installed UKUU too to upgrade Ubuntu Linux Kernel.
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