Update Linux Mint 18.1, update kernel only, no update?

[theheerenhouse]

This Dell laptop is old but running okay and I use the update manager to install updates level 1, 2 and 3 only.
Now I am reading a lot of conflicting information about installing level 4 and 5 updates and upgrading the kernel.

It would be very much appreciated if I was being advice if I should or should not do the following:

- upgrade to Linux Mint 18.3 Sarah Cinnemon
- upgrade the kernel only
- do nothing
Thank you.

Compter info:

erikslebos@Erik-Dell-Laptop ~ $ inxi -Fxz
System: Host: Erik-Dell-Laptop Kernel: 4.4.0-53-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3 (Gtk 2.24.28) Distro: Linux Mint 18.1 Serena
Machine: System: Dell (portable) product: Inspiron 1720
Mobo: Dell model: 0UK437 Bios: Dell v: A09 date: 07/11/2008
CPU: Dual core Intel Core2 Duo T7250 (-MCP-) cache: 2048 KB
flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 7977
clock speeds: max: 2001 MHz 1: 1600 MHz 2: 1600 MHz
Graphics: Card: NVIDIA G86M [GeForce 8400M GS] bus-ID: 01:00.0
Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: nvidia (unloaded: fbdev,vesa,nouveau)
Resolution: 1920x1200@59.98hz
GLX Renderer: GeForce 8400M GS/PCIe/SSE2
GLX Version: 3.3.0 NVIDIA 340.102 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio: Card Intel 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio Controller
driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.4.0-53-generic
Network: Card-1: Broadcom BCM4401-B0 100Base-TX
driver: b44 v: 2.0 bus-ID: 03:00.0
IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
Card-2: Intel PRO/Wireless 4965 AG or AGN [Kedron] Network Connection
driver: iwl4965 v: in-tree: bus-ID: 0c:00.0
IF: wlp12s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Drives: HDD Total Size: 500.1GB (8.3% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: SAMSUNG_HN size: 500.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 456G used: 36G (9%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
ID-2: swap-1 size: 3.22GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda5
RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 49.0C mobo: N/A gpu: 0.0:58C
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 190 Uptime: 3:41 Memory: 455.4/3006.8MB
Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35

[Pjotr]

My advice:

1. First upgrade to 18.3, by means of the upgrade feature in Update Manager in 18.1. That should be safe and painless. It's not necessary, but more a "Why not?" issue.... 18.3 contains some useful improvements.

2. Reboot.

3. When prompted by the new Update Manager of 18.3, select the most cautious update policy.

4. Then install all level 4 updates (kernel included), but one by one, with a reboot after each level 4 update.

Reason for the kernel: with the current security mess created by Meltdown and Spectre, you really need a patched kernel. The latest kernel of the 4.4 series, 4.4.0-116, contains these patches.

[Cosmo.]

If you upgrade to 18.3 is solely your decision; all Mint 18.x get support until 2021. 18.3 brings some new features, but also new bugs. Most remarkable and annoying the problem, that might get a notification at ever shutdown / reboot, that a program is not yet closed; you have to close it manually and than you have still to wait a noticeable time, if it proceeds.

I recommend to install TimeShift. If you use it, you get the ability to revert the system to a previous state, so that you are back in business in case of a major system problem. The installation is a separate step to do, regardless if you stay with 18.1 or if you upgrade to 18.3.

Now you can - and should - install security and kernel updates and can easily revert in case of regressions.

[pbear]

What Cosmo says. (Also the official recommendation.) Before you update or upgrade, install Timeshift from the repository, which you can do with Synaptic, Software Manager or Terminal. This enables you to take a snapshot of your system files (I notice you have oodles of spare room on your hard drive), which then can be restored if anything goes sideways. For the initial installation, disable scheduled backups and make one manually. After you've done all the updates, read up about scheduled snapshots and decide whether to do them (easily enabled later).

As for 18.1 vs. 18.3, main thing you pick up is a better Update Manager. The level system was revised starting with 18.2 and makes more sense now. OTOH, some users (me included) don't like the new Software Manager as much. It's been reworked to accommodate Flatpak and, in the process, lost some old features. In any event, to answer your question, yes, you can update your kernel while staying with 18.1.

[theheerenhouse]

Pjotr, thank you for the advice and I am following through with it.
However, I am getting uncertain with the installation of the level 4 kernel updates.

The update manager states:
your are currently using the following kernel: 4.10.0-38

however below in the list it read:
4.4.0-116 'installed'

and in the update manager level 4 I have to option to update to kernel 4.13.0-37

Since I have come to understand that updating a kernel should be done cautiously, I am now doubtful if I should continue.

Advice is as always highly appreciated.

this is the latest info from inxi -Fxz

System: Host: Erik-Dell-Laptop Kernel: 4.10.0-38-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3 (Gtk 2.24.28) Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Machine: System: Dell (portable) product: Inspiron 1720
Mobo: Dell model: 0UK437 Bios: Dell v: A09 date: 07/11/2008
CPU: Dual core Intel Core2 Duo T7250 (-MCP-) cache: 2048 KB
flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 7977
clock speeds: max: 2001 MHz 1: 1200 MHz 2: 1200 MHz
Graphics: Card: NVIDIA G86M [GeForce 8400M GS] bus-ID: 01:00.0
Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: nvidia,vesa,nouveau (unloaded: fbdev)
Resolution: 1920x1200@0.00hz
GLX Renderer: N/A GLX Version: N/A Direct Rendering: N/A
Audio: Card Intel 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio Controller
driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.10.0-38-generic
Network: Card-1: Broadcom BCM4401-B0 100Base-TX
driver: b44 v: 2.0 bus-ID: 03:00.0
IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
Card-2: Intel PRO/Wireless 4965 AG or AGN [Kedron] Network Connection
driver: iwl4965 v: in-tree: bus-ID: 0c:00.0
IF: wlp12s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Drives: HDD Total Size: 500.1GB (10.6% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: SAMSUNG_HN size: 500.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 456G used: 47G (11%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
ID-2: swap-1 size: 3.22GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda5
RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 51.0C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 180 Uptime: 2:21 Memory: 1237.3/3004.8MB
Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35

[Cosmo.]

Your inxi report confirms, what the update manager says: You are using kernel 4.10.0.38. Trouble with this kernel is, that kernel 4.10 does not get updates since some time. That means, your system is vulnerable.

If more then one kernel is installed, the system boots always by default with the latest (in the sense of highest number, but not necessarily the newest one) version.

So do this: If you reboot the machine press and hold the shift key immediately after powering on. This will show you the grub menu. From the sub menu you can manually select kernel 4.4.0-116. Boot it and test it, if all works as expected, especially all hardware components. If so you can remove kernel 4.10 (all of them, if multiple are installed) from your system. Use the update manager -> Linux kernel to do it. After this step the newest kernel of the 4.4 series will get loaded automatically, when you reboot.

[Termy]

I'd go with the advice of the above poster. I would upgrade to 18.3 as well; it's good, in my opinion. If it doesn't work, it's not a huge deal to roll back to 18.1, right? To clarify, I mean reinstall, while keeping your HOME in-tact.

One of the issues with that point-release, if I remember correctly, is that the Mint team want you using LightDM instead of MDM (their own), for some reason I can't remember. Some people had issues with this switch, but you'll be glad to know it's not required. I personally love LightDM and use it on most of my Ubuntu-based setups.

Regarding your avoidance of level 4 and 5 upgrades: I would reconsider. It's typically trivial to sort the situation in which a kernel update left you with a kernel panic; you simply roll back to the last known working kernel version, via GRUB or whichever bootloader you're using (GRUB, by default). You're also missing out on a lot of security updates, bug fixes, performance increases, and likely new features too; this may not be a huge deal to you now, but the security updates should, in my opinion, always be important to you. It's ultimately up to you, though.

Good luck!

[Pjotr]

As Cosmo. says.... As an addition: you might need to blacklist the Nouveau driver, before the superior closed non-free Nvidia driver becomes active:
https://sites.google.com/site/easylinux ... won-t-load
(item 12, left column)

[theheerenhouse]

Thank you all for the advice.
Have done the upgrade to 18.3, installed the new kernel and did the level 4 and 5 upgrades.
Computer does what it needs to do, so happy camper here.
gracias