[CentOS] 2.6.9-42.0.2.ELsmp

[Steph]

Thank you for your comments guys, I appreciate your input.

Dag, I didn't ask as to whether or not I should use this kernel, I was
asking for opinions on it.
I'm looking into compiling my own and understand the dependencies involved
with Redhat backported issues.


Thanks again.

Stephanie.
 

-----Original Message-----
From: centos-bounces at centos.org [mailto:centos-bounces at centos.org] On Behalf
Of Dag Wieers
Sent: 25 September 2006 15:01
To: CentOS mailing list
Subject: Re: [CentOS] 2.6.9-42.0.2.ELsmp

On Mon, 25 Sep 2006, chrism at imntv.com wrote:

> Steph wrote:
>
> > I currently have a few CentOs 4.X servers running the latest stock
> > 2.6.9-42.0.2.ELsmp kernel.
> >
> > I notice kernel.org are now up to version 2.6.18 and many people are
using
> > the 2.6.17.11
> >
> > Does anyone have any opinions with regards to the 17.11 and .18 kernels?
> > I'm led to believe the latest centos stock kernels are the same anyway
as
> > are the backported Redhat ones.
> 
> There is nothing really "wrong" with using a newer kernel.  It just
requires
> more work on your part.  The beauty of the stock binaries (including the
> kernel) is that you can simply type "yum update blah"  and know with a
fairly
> high degree of certainty that the system will continue to work, that
relevant
> security fixes have been maintained, dependencies with other programs
> maintained, etc.  If you roll your own kernel from  more recent virginal
> source,  it is still likely to work fine, but you will have to mind all
those
> other issues yourself.  Unless you have some device  that isn't working
> properly with the stock kernel, it probably isn't worth the hassle of
doing
> things yourself.

Actually, it might be very wrong to run a newer kernel. Sometimes 
interfaces with the kernel change and tools/libraries need to be updated 
to accomodate this change. You' cannot be sure of that unless you have a 
good understanding of those changes. (Especially for enterprise/production 
usage)

The fact that you ask that question is probably a good indication for me 
to advise not to change from a CentOS supported kernel. (unless you know 
what you're doing but since you did ask the question... :))

Kind regards,
--   dag wieers,  dag at wieers.com,  http://dag.wieers.com/   --
[all I want is a warm bed and a kind word and unlimited power]
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