How to update kernels

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1

Guide about how to update kernels in Qubes OS 4.1. If kernel you want is in qubes-dom0-unstable repository, follow Managing qube kernels | Qubes OS

Assume AppVM is disp1 and you have qvm-copy-to-dom0 script in dom0.

Select kernels you want from Index of /repo/yum/r4.1/current/dom0/fc32/rpm/
Make sure have three rpm because some kernels only have kernel-latest-*.qubes.x86_64.rpm.

kernel-latest-*.qubes.x86_64.rpm
kernel-latest-devel-*.qubes.x86_64.rpm
kernel-latest-qubes-vm-*.qubes.x86_64.rpm

Suppose we want to install 5.16.18.

After downloading kernels to Download of disp1, compress them to a single file because qvm-copy-to-dom0 can’t copy directory.
In disp1, run:

cd ~/Downloads
tar cvzf 5.16.18.tgz *5.16.18*

In dom0, run

kernel_version=5.6.18

mkdir $kernel_version
cd $kernel_version

qvm-copy-to-dom0 disp1 ~/Downloads/$kernel_version.tgz $kernel_version.tgz 

tar -xvf $kernel_version.tgz

sudo dnf install -y kernel-latest-*.qubes.x86_64.rpm
sudo dnf install -y kernel-latest-qubes-vm-*.qubes.x86_64.rpm

# install dependencies of devel
# if you need other dependies, search how to install them in Fedora, and replace `dnf install` with `qubes-dom0-update`
sudo qubes-dom0-update -y elfutils-libelf-devel
sudo dnf install -y kernel-latest-devel-*.qubes.x86_64.rpm

rm -rf ../kernel_version

After reboot, Qubes OS will select latest kernel automatically. You can manually set kernel too.

2 Likes
2

In my experience, 5.18.9 can only be seen in boot menu after installing 5.16.18.

3

This was useful for updating the kernel of an installation that was unable to connect to the internet. I had to also include a 4th RPM to allow dnf to install it without an internet connection:

kernel-latest-modules-*.qubes.x86_64.rpm

And then I just ran:

sudo dnf install kernel-*

Thank you for sharing!