Kernels confusion

[deepakdeshp]

There are many terms like upstream, downstream, mainline, HWE LTS
Then there are the recent vulnerabilities like spectre and meltdown.
At a time many series of kernel which are developed and newer versions are released. e.g.at present 4.15, 4.14,4.4 even some 3.x series are receiving updates as newer versions.
So which kernel should one use? Is the LTS for 6 years the safe bet and go with it for 6 years?
https://itsfoss.com/linux-lts-kernel-six-years/

[kc1di]

I can understand why there is confusion about the Kernels.
Briefly Mint Uses Ubuntu modified kernels and Ubuntu does not go by Kernel.org LTS system. It supports it's own LTS kernels.
Thus currently Ubuntu LTS kernels are 4.4 series. Here a page that explains it further https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/Support
Right now 4.15 is scheduled to be the next LTS kernel But that may change before the release of 18.04.
Hope this helps.

[Schultz]

kc1di wrote:
Briefly Mint Uses Ubuntu modified kernels and Ubuntu does not go by Kernel.org LTS system. It supports it's own LTS kernels.

^ This! ^ It is advisable to stick only to kernels from "Mint's (Ubuntu's) own world."

kc1di wrote:
Thus currently Ubuntu LTS kernels are 4.4 series.

Also 3.13 for those on Mint 17.x.

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/Support