How to Install Linux Kernel 6.2 on CentOS Stream EL9 or EL8

Linux Kernel 6.2 introduces an impressive array of new and improved features that enhance its performance and expand its hardware support. Here are some of the notable updates:

• Out-of-the-box support for Intel Arc graphics and Intel’s On-Demand driver for 4th-Gen Xeon CPUs.
• Call Depth Tracking improves performance for older Intel Skylake CPUs and addresses the Retbleed CPU speculative execution vulnerability.
• Mainline support for the Apple M1 Pro, Max, and Ultra chips, allowing for a more stable and reliable Linux experience on Apple Silicon.
• The NTFS3 kernel driver update includes new mount options that enable files and folders to be hidden when viewed on Windows, support case-insensitive folders and files, and prevent files and folders from being given names that are not allowed in Windows.
• New drivers for the Sony DualShock 4 gamepads, sensors, and fans in the OneXPlayer gaming handheld, Habana Labs’ Gaudi2 AI accelerator, and hardware monitoring sensors in ASUS motherboards, including the Rog Crosshair VIII Extreme.
• Early support for NVIDIA RTX 30/Ampere GPUs in Nouveau, updated Zstd compression code, improved Btrfs performance enhancements, and new mount options for Squashfs filesystems.
• Foundational support for Wi-Fi 7 and 800Gbps networking, faster file and folder creation with the exFAT driver, RISC-V support for persistent memory devices, and USB 4 Wake-on-Connect/Disconnect support.
• Improved power savings for Intel Alder Lake N/Raptor Lake P, ChromeOS Human Presence Sensor support, and Raspberry Pi 4K @ 60Hz display support.

This guide will provide step-by-step instructions on installing Linux Kernel 6.2 with ELRepo using the command line terminal on your CentOS Stream 9 or CentOS Stream 8 Enterprise Linux distribution. This guide will help you take advantage of the latest features of Linux Kernel 6.2 and ensure your system is up-to-date and secure.

Step 1: Update CentOS Stream

It’s essential to ensure that your system is up-to-date before installation. You can check and install all existing packages by updating your system with the following command:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Step 2: Import ELRepo Repository

To install and upgrade Linux kernels using the dnf package manager without compiling kernels, you’ll first need to import the repository from the ELRepo project. This repository provides the latest available mainline kernel with regular updates.

To import the GPG key for a successful installation, use the following command:

sudo rpm --import https://www.elrepo.org/RPM-GPG-KEY-elrepo.org

After importing the GPG key, install the repository using the appropriate command for your distribution version. Ensure you import the correct version for your system to avoid kernel installation failure. Follow the instructions below to install the repository successfully.

Import ELRepo for CentOS Stream 9

sudo dnf install https://www.elrepo.org/elrepo-release-9.el9.elrepo.noarch.rpm -y

Import ELRepo for CentOS Stream 8

sudo dnf install https://www.elrepo.org/elrepo-release-8.el8.elrepo.noarch.rpm -y

Once you’ve imported the repository, you can verify its successful import by checking for the supported kernels available for installation on ELRepo. To do this, you can search for ELRepo to see the list of supported kernels. By verifying the supported kernels, you can ensure the repository is ready for installation. Follow the instructions below to search for supported kernels on ELRepo.

dnf list available --disablerepo='*' --enablerepo=elrepo-kernel

Example output:

kernel-ml.x86_64                         6.2.0-1.el9.elrepo        elrepo-kernel
kernel-ml-core.x86_64                    6.2.0-1.el9.elrepo        elrepo-kernel
kernel-ml-devel.x86_64                   6.2.0-1.el9.elrepo        elrepo-kernel
kernel-ml-devel-matched.x86_64           6.2.0-1.el9.elrepo        elrepo-kernel
kernel-ml-doc.noarch                     6.2.0-1.el9.elrepo        elrepo-kernel
kernel-ml-headers.x86_64                 6.2.0-1.el9.elrepo        elrepo-kernel
kernel-ml-modules.x86_64                 6.2.0-1.el9.elrepo        elrepo-kernel
kernel-ml-modules-extra.x86_64           6.2.0-1.el9.elrepo        elrepo-kernel
kernel-ml-tools.x86_64                   6.2.0-1.el9.elrepo        elrepo-kernel
kernel-ml-tools-libs.x86_64              6.2.0-1.el9.elrepo        elrepo-kernel
kernel-ml-tools-libs-devel.x86_64        6.2.0-1.el9.elrepo        elrepo-kernel

After running the command, the output will display the list of available kernels supported by ELRepo. You can then proceed with the installation of Linux Kernel 6.2.

Step 3: Install Linux Kernel 6.2 with ELRepo

Once you’ve imported the ELRepo repository, you can install Linux Kernel 6.2 on your CentOS Stream 9 or CentOS Stream 8 Enterprise Linux distribution. Follow the steps below to complete the installation process.

To install Linux Kernel 6.2, open your terminal and use the following command:

sudo dnf --enablerepo=elrepo-kernel install kernel-ml

If you need the full suite of kernel packages, including Linux Kernel headers, modules, and extra modules, use the following command and remove any packages you don’t need. However, if you’re unsure, use the first command:

sudo dnf --enablerepo=elrepo-kernel install kernel-ml kernel-ml-core kernel-ml-headers kernel-ml-modules kernel-ml-modules-extra

Once the installation is complete, reboot your system. During the boot window, select Kernel 6.2 if it’s not set as the default. Remember, you can switch to any kernel listed in the boot window if you encounter any issues.

Use the following command to reboot your system:

sudo reboot

Example:

After your system has rebooted, verify the successful installation of the new Kernel by checking its version and build using the following command:

uname -r

The output will display the version and build of your new kernel. For example:

6.2.0-1.el9.elrepo.x86_64

That’s it! You’ve successfully installed Linux Kernel 6.2 using ELRepo on your CentOS Stream 9 or CentOS Stream 8 Enterprise Linux distribution.

Additional Tips

Updating your Linux Kernel ensures a smooth and secure system operation, and it provides new features, better hardware support, and security patches. The section will explain how to update your Linux Kernel to the latest version, 6.2, using the ELRepo repository and how to restore the default kernel in case of issues.

Update Linux Kernel 6.2

To check and update your Linux Kernel 6.2, use the following command as you would with any other package using the DNF manager:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Note that after any kernel update, you must reboot your system to ensure the new kernel is in use. You can choose which kernel to use during the boot process if any issues arise.

Restore Default Kernel

If you experience bugs or other issues with the new kernel, it may be necessary to restore the default kernel. Follow these steps to return to the previous kernel version:

Disable the ELRepo repository by using the following command:

sudo dnf config-manager --set-disabled elrepo

You can confirm that the repository has been disabled by using the following command:

dnf repolist

To reinstall the default kernel packages, execute the following command in your terminal.

sudo dnf reinstall kernel kernel-core kernel-modules kernel-headers

To reboot your system, use the following command in the terminal.

reboot

Select the original Linux Kernel you had installed during the boot process to switch back to your default kernel. This will restore your previous kernel version automatically. To confirm that the 6.2 Linux kernel has been removed after you have returned to your system, run the following command in the terminal.

uname -r

Note: You can remove all unused kernels by using the following command. However, use this command with caution:

sudo dnf --setopt=protected_packages= remove $(rpm -q kernel-core | grep -v $(uname -r))

Conclusion

In conclusion, updating and installing the latest Linux Kernel on your CentOS Stream system can be accomplished using the ELRepo repository. Following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily upgrade your system to Kernel 6.2 and restore the default kernel if necessary. Keeping your system updated with the latest kernel is essential for improved performance, security, and compatibility with the latest hardware and software. Always be cautious and back up important data before making major system changes.

FAQ on Linux Kernel 6.2 with CentOS Stream