Upgrading Linux Kernel Version without Compiling Everything: Incremental Patches
Linux kernel upgrades are an essential part of system maintenance, ensuring that your system remains secure and up-to-date with the latest features. However, upgrading the kernel can be a time-consuming process, especially if you compile the entire kernel from source. An alternative approach is to apply incremental patches, which allow you to upgrade your kernel version without recompiling the entire kernel.
Starting with an Existing Kernel Version
Before you can apply incremental patches, you need to start with an existing kernel version. This can be the current version running on your system or a different version that you have previously installed. You can find the current kernel version by running the following command:
uname -r
Finding Incremental Patches
Once you have identified the kernel version you want to upgrade to, you can search for incremental patches that will bring your system up to that version. These patches are typically available on the official Linux kernel website or through your distribution's package manager. For example, if you are using Ubuntu, you can use the following command to search for available kernel patches:
apt-cache search linux-image
Applying Incremental Patches
To apply incremental patches, you will need to use the patch command. This command takes two arguments: the patch file and the directory where the patch should be applied. For example, if you have downloaded a patch file called linux-4.4.113.patch and you want to apply it to the kernel source code located in the /usr/src/linux-4.4.112 directory, you would use the following command:
cd /usr/src/linux-4.4.112
patch -p1 < ../linux-4.4.113.patch
The -p1 option tells the patch command to strip the leading slash and the first directory component from the patch file. This is necessary because the patch file assumes that the kernel source code is located in the top-level directory.
Recompiling Modified Files
After applying incremental patches, you will need to recompile any modified kernel modules or drivers. You can use the following command to recompile all of the kernel modules:
make modules
Once the modules have been recompiled, you can install the new kernel by running the following command:
make install
Upgrading the Linux kernel version using incremental patches is a convenient and efficient way to keep your system up-to-date. By applying incremental patches, you can avoid the time-consuming process of compiling the entire kernel from source. However, it is essential to remember that you will still need to recompile any modified kernel modules or drivers after applying the patches.