topic Re: How to undo kernel update ia64 in Operating System - Linux

How to undo kernel update ia64

Shawn McConnell! — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:51:49 GMT

I am currently building a linux server ia64. During the build process I ran yum update and it did the following...

Loaded plugins: rhnplugin, security
Skipping security plugin, no data
Setting up Update Process
Resolving Dependencies
Skipping security plugin, no data
--> Running transaction check
---> Package kernel-headers.ia64 0:2.6.18-128.1.14.el5 set to be updated
---> Package cscope.ia64 0:15.5-15.1.el5_3.1 set to be updated
---> Package kernel.ia64 0:2.6.18-128.1.14.el5 set to be installed
---> Package xulrunner-devel.ia64 0:1.9.0.11-3.el5_3 set to be updated
---> Package nash.ia64 0:5.1.19.6-44.1 set to be updated
---> Package apr-util.ia64 0:1.2.7-7.el5_3.1 set to be updated
---> Package tzdata.noarch 0:2009i-2.el5 set to be updated
---> Package kernel-devel.ia64 0:2.6.18-128.1.14.el5 set to be installed
---> Package mkinitrd.ia64 0:5.1.19.6-44.1 set to be updated
---> Package firefox.ia64 0:3.0.11-2.el5_3 set to be updated
---> Package xulrunner.ia64 0:1.9.0.11-3.el5_3 set to be updated
--> Finished Dependency Resolution

Dependencies Resolved

===============================================================================================================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
===============================================================================================================================================================================
Installing:
kernel ia64 2.6.18-128.1.14.el5 rhel-ia64-server-5 28 M
kernel-devel ia64 2.6.18-128.1.14.el5 rhel-ia64-server-5 5.0 M
Updating:
apr-util ia64 1.2.7-7.el5_3.1 rhel-ia64-server-5 101 k
cscope ia64 15.5-15.1.el5_3.1 rhel-ia64-server-5 179 k
firefox ia64 3.0.11-2.el5_3 rhel-ia64-server-5 12 M
kernel-headers ia64 2.6.18-128.1.14.el5 rhel-ia64-server-5 931 k
mkinitrd ia64 5.1.19.6-44.1 rhel-ia64-server-5 633 k
nash ia64 5.1.19.6-44.1 rhel-ia64-server-5 1.7 M
tzdata noarch 2009i-2.el5 rhel-ia64-server-5 783 k
xulrunner ia64 1.9.0.11-3.el5_3 rhel-ia64-server-5 14 M
xulrunner-devel ia64 1.9.0.11-3.el5_3 rhel-ia64-server-5 3.5 M

Transaction Summary
===============================================================================================================================================================================
Install 2 Package(s)
Update 9 Package(s)
Remove 0 Package(s)

Total download size: 67 M
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Downloading Packages:
(1/11): apr-util-1.2.7-7.el5_3.1.ia64.rpm | 101 kB 00:01
(2/11): cscope-15.5-15.1.el5_3.1.ia64.rpm | 179 kB 00:02
(3/11): mkinitrd-5.1.19.6-44.1.ia64.rpm | 633 kB 00:01
(4/11): tzdata-2009i-2.el5.noarch.rpm | 783 kB 00:11
(5/11): kernel-headers-2.6.18-128.1.14.el5.ia64.rpm | 931 kB 00:06
(6/11): nash-5.1.19.6-44.1.ia64.rpm | 1.7 MB 00:26
(7/11): xulrunner-devel-1.9.0.11-3.el5_3.ia64.rpm | 3.5 MB 00:23
(8/11): kernel-devel-2.6.18-128.1.14.el5.ia64.rpm | 5.0 MB 01:19
(9/11): firefox-3.0.11-2.el5_3.ia64.rpm | 12 MB 06:18
(10/11): xulrunner-1.9.0.11-3.el5_3.ia64.rpm | 14 MB 06:54
(11/11): kernel-2.6.18-128.1.14.el5.ia64.rpm | 28 MB 11:48
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 41 kB/s | 67 MB 27:40
Running rpm_check_debug
Running Transaction Test
Finished Transaction Test
Transaction Test Succeeded
Running Transaction
Updating : xulrunner [ 1/20]
Updating : apr-util [ 2/20]
Updating : xulrunner-devel [ 3/20]
Updating : cscope [ 4/20]
Updating : nash [ 5/20]
Updating : mkinitrd [ 6/20]
Updating : tzdata [ 7/20]
Installing : kernel [ 8/20]
Updating : firefox [ 9/20]
Updating : kernel-headers [10/20]
Installing : kernel-devel [11/20]
Cleanup : tzdata [12/20]
Cleanup : xulrunner [13/20]
Cleanup : firefox [14/20]
Cleanup : kernel-headers [15/20]
Cleanup : mkinitrd [16/20]
Cleanup : xulrunner-devel [17/20]
Cleanup : apr-util [18/20]
Cleanup : nash [19/20]
Cleanup : cscope [20/20]

Installed: kernel.ia64 0:2.6.18-128.1.14.el5 kernel-devel.ia64 0:2.6.18-128.1.14.el5
Updated: apr-util.ia64 0:1.2.7-7.el5_3.1 cscope.ia64 0:15.5-15.1.el5_3.1 firefox.ia64 0:3.0.11-2.el5_3 kernel-headers.ia64 0:2.6.18-128.1.14.el5 mkinitrd.ia64 0:5.1.19.6-44.1
nash.ia64 0:5.1.19.6-44.1 tzdata.noarch 0:2009i-2.el5 xulrunner.ia64 0:1.9.0.11-3.el5_3 xulrunner-devel.ia64 0:1.9.0.11-3.el5_3
Complete!

The problem is is that the first server I built has kernel version 2.6.18-128.1.10.el5 on there. This new server currently has that version but the update installed version 2.6.18-128.1.14.el5.

I have not rebooted the server yet so how can I undo that kernel upgrade ?

Thanks

Shawn

Re: How to undo kernel update ia64

Ivan Ferreira — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:32:27 GMT

Can you please post the output of:

uname -r
rpm -qa | grep kernel
cat /etc/grub.conf

Thanks

Re: How to undo kernel update ia64

Shawn McConnell! — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:51:51 GMT

uname -r
2.6.18-128.1.10.el5

rpm -qa | grep kernel
kernel-devel-2.6.18-128.1.10.el5
kernel-2.6.18-128.1.14.el5
kernel-devel-2.6.18-128.1.14.el5
kernel-devel-2.6.18-128.el5
kernel-2.6.18-128.1.10.el5
kernel-2.6.18-128.el5
kernel-headers-2.6.18-128.1.14.el5

cat /etc/grub.conf: returned nothing. I am running Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server release 5.3

Re: How to undo kernel update ia64

Ivan Ferreira — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:54:28 GMT

Then the file should be /boot/grub/grub.conf.

I can see that your current kernel was not removed by the update, that means that you have your current and your new kernel installed and you can boot from any of them.

Just ensure that your "default" line in grub.conf points to your current kernel.

Re: How to undo kernel update ia64

Shawn McConnell! — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:58:53 GMT

Don't see it there either.

This is the first time we have used Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 5.3 so i am still getting used to the new changes. Can I create one ?

Re: How to undo kernel update ia64

Ivan Ferreira — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:04:25 GMT

Extrange, the file should be there, can you please post the output of:

ls -la /boot
ls -la /boot/grub

Re: How to undo kernel update ia64

Shawn McConnell! — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:06:30 GMT

ls -la /boot
total 2648
drwxr-xr-x 4 root root 4096 Jun 4 16:51 .
drwxr-xr-x 26 root root 4096 Jun 16 10:18 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 59018 Apr 29 14:11 config-2.6.18-128.1.10.el5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 59013 Dec 17 2008 config-2.6.18-128.el5
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 16384 Dec 31 1969 efi
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Jun 4 11:54 grub
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 100455 Apr 29 14:12 symvers-2.6.18-128.1.10.el5.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 100455 Dec 17 2008 symvers-2.6.18-128.el5.gz
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1144817 Apr 29 14:11 System.map-2.6.18-128.1.10.el5
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1144704 Dec 17 2008 System.map-2.6.18-128.el5

ls -la /boot/grub
total 52
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Jun 4 11:54 .
drwxr-xr-x 4 root root 4096 Jun 4 16:51 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 32428 Jan 4 2007 splash.xpm.gz

Re: How to undo kernel update ia64

Ivan Ferreira — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:14:15 GMT

Now I understand, it's an IA64 system. Did not realize that.

Then, you should have the:

/boot/efi/elilo.conf

That file should list your kernel boot options.

Re: How to undo kernel update ia64

Shawn McConnell! — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:18:52 GMT

Yup. I just found that file

/boot/efi/efi/redhat># more elilo.conf
prompt
timeout=20
default=2.6.9-89.EL
relocatable

image=vmlinuz-2.6.9-89.EL
label=2.6.9-89.EL
initrd=initrd-2.6.9-89.EL.img
read-only
root=/dev/vg00/lvol03
append="console=tty0 console=ttyS0 rhgb quiet"
image=vmlinuz-2.6.9-78.EL
label=linux
initrd=initrd-2.6.9-78.EL.img
read-only
root=/dev/vg00/lvol03
append="console=tty0 console=ttyS0 rhgb quiet"

Re: How to undo kernel update ia64

Shawn McConnell! — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:39:37 GMT

Actually this is the file

cat elilo.conf
prompt
timeout=20
default=2.6.18-128.1.14.el5
relocatable

image=vmlinuz-2.6.18-128.1.14.el5
label=2.6.18-128.1.14.el5
initrd=initrd-2.6.18-128.1.14.el5.img
read-only
root=/dev/vg00/lvol03
append="rhgb quiet"
image=vmlinuz-2.6.18-128.1.10.el5
label=2.6.18-128.1.10.el5
initrd=initrd-2.6.18-128.1.10.el5.img
read-only
root=/dev/vg00/lvol03
append="rhgb quiet"
image=vmlinuz-2.6.18-128.el5
label=linux
initrd=initrd-2.6.18-128.el5.img
read-only
root=/dev/vg00/lvol03
append="rhgb quiet"

So can I just reboot and then vi this file and put the old kernel back in place ?

Re: How to undo kernel update ia64

Matti_Kurkela — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:42:18 GMT

As you are still using the older kernel you wish to keep using, there is no need to reboot at all.

A reboot at this point would (by default) activate the newer kernel, making it impossible to remove cleanly, until you reboot again and select the older kernel version.

(Uninstalling the kernel you're currently running is almost as bad an idea as pulling up the rug you're standing on. The effect may not be as immediate, but still may lead to extra pain that would have been simple to avoid. The package management tools will usually stop your attempt short.)

You can simply remove the new kernel RPM ("rpm -e kernel-2.6.18-128.1.14.el5"). Any kernel install/remove operation will regenerate the bootloader configuration file (elilo.conf in your case). Unless the sysadmin has specified otherwise, the installed kernel with the highest version number will be the new default, so after the removal, you should automatically have the -128.1.10.el5 kernel as the default. Check the elilo.conf after removal, and edit if necessary.

You may want/need to downgrade the kernel-headers package too. As it's used only when you're compiling things that use kernel APIs directly, you are free to do it at any point you wish.

MK

Re: How to undo kernel update ia64

Ivan Ferreira — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:34:28 GMT

You don't even need to uninstall the kernel. You can have both on your machine, boot as desired or needed.

In your elilo.conf file set:

default=2.6.18-128.1.10.el5

Then you will boot always your current kernel untill you want to change to the new.

Re: How to undo kernel update ia64

Shawn McConnell! — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:04:48 GMT

Thanks guys. (Ivan especially !!!)

I just changed the default in the elilo.conf file and everything looks good now.

Thanks Again

Shawn

Re: How to undo kernel update ia64

Shawn McConnell! — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:05:34 GMT

fixed