Tutorial

Pacman -Syu Kernel Update [SOLVED]: How to Ignore Arch Kernel Upgrades

Published on September 28, 2012

Miscellaneous

Pacman -Syu Kernel Update [SOLVED]: How to Ignore Arch Kernel Upgrades

Arch offers its updates on a rolling release schedule. Arch linux is updated to the newest version with the command:

pacman -Syu

Arch linux will overwrite the kernel when the upstream maintainers release a new kernel package. In many instances, especially in a virtualized environment, where the kernel might be located outside of the running server, it is necessary to tell pacman to ignore upgrading the linux kernel.

To do so, add this line to the pacman configuration file, /etc/pacman.conf:

IgnorePkg   = linux

Once this line is modified, any future updates to the system will skip the kernel overwrite.

By Etel Sverdlov

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oligasser • February 21, 2013

Please add a NOTE to /etc/pacman.conf stating that you cannot update linux, otherwise your system will not boot anymore. Something like:

NOTE: linux cannot be updated as the kernel is located outside the virtual server!

woloinme • April 5, 2013

When are you going to allow kernels to be updated?

sidahldesign • April 14, 2013

want updating of kernels as well

packettalk • April 16, 2013

This should be a DigitalOcean default since it is specific to DigitalOcean and not Arch rollouts in general.

01walid • April 30, 2013

this options is now added by default in latest pacman.conf that ships with newer arch linux or when running pacman -Syu is should be in the pacman.conf.pacnew, and you just need to uncomment the line rather than adding, plus you should ignore linux-api-headers as well. so the line should look like this:

Pacman won’t upgrade packages listed in IgnorePkg and members of IgnoreGroup

IgnorePkg = linux linux-api-headers

Pacman won’t upgrade packages listed in IgnorePkg and members of IgnoreGroup

IgnorePkg = linux linux-api-headers

Adding this line elsewhere WON’T WORK.

tunix • June 16, 2013

Why is this needed? When will be able to upgrade the kernel?

dahankzter • June 22, 2013

I would really like to have newer kernels too.

archjslin • June 24, 2013

Hello, why is this marked as [SOLVED] ? It’s not solved at all, it’s just ignored.

It’s not right if I can’t naturally upgrade the kernel at all.

Kamal Nasser

DigitalOcean Employee

• June 26, 2013

We’re working on allowing customers to use their own kernels:

http://digitalocean.uservoice.com/forums/136585-digital-ocean/suggestions/2814988-give-option-to-use-the-droplet-s-own-bootloader

http://digitalocean.uservoice.com/forums/136585-digital-ocean/suggestions/3226493-adding-kernel-management-to-the-web-user-interface

helirexi • August 15, 2013

How to use last kernels in Digital Ocean droplet

@Sean commented · June 10, 2013 4:29 p.m. This is how I set up my own kernels. (try at your own risk) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHNPTvMwHPE

Following to Sean video (see his post with youtube video) made this with my arch droplet - and very happy! Finally I have normal (not-Frankenstein) arch system as arch naturally is - always up-to-date! Big Thanks, Sean!

There few steps.

Switch to root (if you have sudo installed): sudo su

Install kexec-tools: pacman -S kexec-tools -y

Remove systemd-sysvcompat: pacman -R systemd-sysvcompat

Make you own boot script: nano /tmp/init ======code====================== #!/bin/sh

kexec --load /boot/vmlinuz-linux --initrd=/boot/initramfs-linux.img --append=“root=LABEL=DOROOT init=/usr/lib/systemd/systemd” &&

mount -o ro,remount / &&

kexec -e

exec /usr/lib/systemd/systemd ======end==code========================

Change dir: cd /sbin

Copy our script: cp /tmp/init ./

Make it executable: chmod 0755 init