Keeping multiple kernels

[Lloyd Zusman]

Pawel A. Gajda <mis <at> k2.net.pl> writes:
 
> Sunday 06/11/2005 12:40:30, Lloyd Zusman:
> >
> > [ ... ]
> > 
> > Using yum, the "installonlypkgs" variable takes care of all this for me.
> > With that variable set to "kernel*", I just do a "yum update" (which I
> > think corresponds to "poldek --upgrade-dist"), and it will automatically
> > see the new kernels, present them to me with any other packages that
> > need to be updated, and then install them like all the other packages ...
> > except that the old kernels don't get removed due to the "installonlypkgs" 
> > variable.
> 
> I see. There is no such automation in poldek (yet maybe), hold= prevents
> packages to be upgraded only, held packages are just skipped during 
> --upgrade-dist.

Thank you for this complete and helpful explanation.  I think I now
understand, but I want to make sure that I do.  In order to achieve
what I want to do with kernels, is this the correct sequence of events?

1.  Make sure that "hold = kernel*" is set.

2.  Periodically do a "poldek --upgrade-dist".

3.  After this, use "llu" or "llU" as you describe below, in
    order to tell me whether there is a new kernel.

4.  If I see that there is indeed a new kernel, then use the
    "poldek -i kernel" or "poldek -i kernel-smp" command to
    install it.

Did I get this right?

A couple more questions:  does the "poldek --upgrade-dist" command
actually install new versions of the packages that are not
held via the "hold" directive?  ... or does it simply download
the updated packages, thereby requiring me to do a subsequent
"install -F *" in order to actually install them?  And if
"hold = kernel*" is set, will "install -F *" ignore any new
kernels?

Thanks again for all your explanation, and I send you my appreciation
for this excellent piece of software.



> So
> 
> > 1. Find out whether there are new kernel(s) in any of the repositories.
> > 
> > 2. Determine the version number(s) of these new kernel(s).
> 
> Newer than installed packages are displayed by "llu" and "llU" 
> interactive commands (aliases for "ls" in fact, see "ls --help". 
> Interactive commands may be accessed in 3 ways:
> 
> poldek> llu kernel* 
> 
> or 
> 
> $ poldek --cmd llu kernel\*
> 
> or 
> 
> $ ipoldek llu kernel\*
> 
> > 3. Install the new kernel(s) [ actually, I already know how to do this
> >    once steps 1 and 2 are finished ... I'm just asking here for
> >    completeness ].
> 
> Command line -i switch: 
> 
> $ poldek -i kernel 
> 
> or by interactive mode command "install" with -I and -N switches.
> "just-install" mentioned above is an alias for "install -IN", 
> see "install --help".

-- 
 Lloyd Zusman
 ljz at asfast.com
 God bless you.