[SOLVED] Will a apt-hold on Kernel 6.8.0-79-lowlatency, interfere with update-grub?

[TinyTim]

Nvidia will no longer be supporting older Nvidia GPU's on and there after Kernels 6.11, so I decided to apt-hold Kernel 6.8 and use it till it dies. I would normally do a web search for the answer, but am having a hard time forming the words in the engine to get a direct answer. I am dual booting and will be changing one of the systems shortly and was wondering if the hold on the kernel would interfere or break when the new install creates a new grub boot menu on the efi partition?

[Snowhog]

AI Overview
Using apt-mark hold on your current kernel packages prevents those specific kernel packages from being upgraded or removed during subsequent apt upgrade or apt dist-upgradeoperations.
Specifically, this means:

• No new kernel versions will be installed for the held packages:
  If a newer version of the exact kernel package you held becomes available, apt will not install it.
• Security updates for the held kernel will not be applied:
  If the held kernel version receives security patches, these patches are typically delivered as updates to that specific kernel package. Holding the package prevents these security updates from being installed.
• Other system updates may still occur:
  Holding the kernel packages does not prevent other non-kernel packages from being updated.
• Potential for new kernel installations via metapackages:
  If you are using a kernel metapackage (e.g., linux-image-generic, linux-generic-hwe), and you only hold the specific real kernel package (e.g., linux-image-4.15.0-1007-aws), the metapackage itself might still be updated. This update could then pull in a new, unheld kernel package, effectively installing a newer kernel despite your hold on the older one. To fully prevent kernel upgrades, you typically need to hold both the specific real kernel packages and the relevant metapackages.

Consequences of holding your kernel:

• System vulnerability:
  You will not receive security updates for your kernel, potentially leaving your system vulnerable to known exploits.
• Lack of new features and hardware support:
  Newer kernels often include support for new hardware and performance improvements, which you will miss out on.
• Potential for system instability (less common):
  While less frequent, some software or hardware might eventually require features or bug fixes present in newer kernel versions, leading to potential compatibility issues.

To hold your kernel, you would typically use commands like:
Code
sudo apt-mark hold linux-image-$(uname -r) linux-headers-$(uname -r)And if using a metapackage, you might also need to hold it:
Code
sudo apt-mark hold linux-image-generic linux-headers-genericTo unhold the packages and allow updates:
Code
sudo apt-mark unhold linux-image-$(uname -r) linux-headers-$(uname -r)sudo apt-mark unhold linux-image-generic linux-headers-generic zz0.p4imsngrjp7zz

[claydoh]

No, holding a kernel package won't affect updating grub. that should still keep three kernel versions around.

Actually, instead of holding a specific kernel package, you might consider simply removing the HWE kernel upgrade track altogether, and just keep to the stock (GA) kernel track with the 6.8. This keeps you with all the kernel security updates patches for the full life of the LTS, and will stay at 6.8.0.

Now, I am not sure if I recommend the lowlatency unless you are doing something with music production or something and have tested it against the normal kernel.
I have heard that recent kernels seem to have mostly negated the need to use a lowlatency version, though of course ymmv.

So:

Install the GA kernel metapackage:

sudo apt install  --install-recommends​​ linux-image-generic

If your installation is older, from either of the first two ISO builds, you already have this.

If necessary, Reboot, and select the 6.8 kernel in grub and make sure things are working fine there (as they seem to be)

Next, remove the HWE kernels and related packages:

sudo apt purge linux-generic-hwe-24.04 linux-headers-generic-hwe-24.04 linux-modules-6.1* linux-headers-6.1*
sudo apt autoremove

Now, if you want the lowlatency kernel, install the metapackage for that so that you also get the security updates there as well:

sudo apt install linux-image-lowlatency

Now you will only have 6.8.0 kernels, no later releases. You should keep the three most current builds automatically.

Pinning (aka holding) a specific kernel package can still be a useful tool if there is an issue with a specific build down the road and you want to keep one around. But this seems less likely for you here.

[TinyTim]

Removing the HWE kernel upgrade track will be my go to solution. Now I will run MXLinux alongside Kubuntu 24.04 until I have to remove this card and switch to AMD. Note: Ubuntu Studio KDE comes with a low latency kernel, I use this for desktop publishing for a company and have been afraid to change it. It handles graphics, fonts, and video better than all the distros I have tried. Thank you both for your help.

[TinyTim]

No, holding a kernel package won't affect updating grub. that should still keep three kernel versions around.

Actually, instead of holding a specific kernel package, you might consider simply removing the HWE kernel upgrade track altogether, and just keep to the stock (GA) kernel track with the 6.8. This keeps you with all the kernel security updates patches for the full life of the LTS, and will stay at 6.8.0.

Now, I am not sure if I recommend the lowlatency unless you are doing something with music production or something and have tested it against the normal kernel.
I have heard that recent kernels seem to have mostly negated the need to use a lowlatency version, though of course ymmv.

So:

Install the GA kernel metapackage:

sudo apt install --install-recommends​y​ linux-image-generic

If your installation is older, from either of the first two ISO builds, you already have this.

If necessary, Reboot, and select the 6.8 kernel in grub and make sure things are working fine there (as they seem to be)

Next, remove the HWE kernels and related packages:

sudo apt purge linux-generic-hwe-24.04 linux-headers-generic-hwe-24.04 linux-modules-6.1* linux-headers-6.1*
sudo apt autoremove

Now, if you want the lowlatency kernel, install the metapackage for that so that you also get the security updates there as well:

sudo apt install linux-image-lowlatency

Now you will only have 6.8.0 kernels, no later releases. You should keep the three most current builds automatically.

Pinning (aka holding) a specific kernel package can still be a useful tool if there is an issue with a specific build down the road and you want to keep one around. But this seems less likely for you here.

I don't see HWE for generic, only for low-latency. Should I revise the code you gave me to remove HWE or go with it as is. I have no problem with generic kernels over low latency, I left it alone because I didn't know any better and that is how it came with Ubuntu Studio.

ii linux-image-6.8.0-65-lowlatency 6.8.0-65.68.1
amd64 Signed kernel image lowlatency
ii linux-image-6.8.0-78-lowlatency 6.8.0-78.78.1
amd64 Signed kernel image lowlatency
ii linux-image-6.8.0-79-generic 6.8.0-79.79
amd64 Signed kernel image generic
ii linux-image-6.8.0-79-lowlatency 6.8.0-79.79.1
amd64 Signed kernel image lowlatency
ii linux-image-generic 6.8.0-79.79
amd64 Generic Linux kernel image
ii linux-image-lowlatency 6.8.0-79.79.1
amd64 lowlatency Linux kernel image
ii linux-image-lowlatency-hwe-22.04 6.8.0-65.68.1~22.04.1
amd64 lowlatency Linux kernel image

[claydoh]

You can skip installing the normal GA kernel - you can have both

But here you'd want to remove the lowlatency packages instead and just install linux-image-lowlatency instead. This will keep you on the GA Low Latency track and 6.8.0 kernels
Sorry, I did not realize you were on Ubuntu Studio.

I will find the correct packages in a moment. I am having issues lol

ok
Remove

linux-lowlatency-hwe-24.04 linux-generic-hwe-24.04 linux-image-generic-hwe-24.04 linux-headers-generic-hwe-24.04 linux-modules-6.1* linux-headers-6.1*

You might not have linux-generic-hwe-24.04
So basically add the lowlatency-hwe metapackage to the list.

BUT Studio DOES include both the normal and low-latency kernels so it might be wise to keep the normal kernel as well, if you want.


I don't think there is anything extra needed here, but if unsure, you might want to ask the Ubuntu Studio folks if there are any concerns or things to change elsewhere -- I highly doubt it, though.

[TinyTim]

You can skip installing the normal GA kernel - you can have both

But here you'd want to remove the lowlatency packages instead and just install linux-image-lowlatency instead. This will keep you on the GA Low Latency track and 6.8.0 kernels
Sorry, I did not realize you were on Ubuntu Studio.

I will find the correct packages in a moment. I am having issues lol

ok
Remove

linux-lowlatency-hwe-24.04 linux-generic-hwe-24.04 linux-image-generic-hwe-24.04 linux-headers-generic-hwe-24.04 linux-modules-6.1* linux-headers-6.1*

You might not have linux-generic-hwe-24.04
So basically add the lowlatency-hwe metapackage to the list.

BUT Studio DOES include both the normal and low-latency kernels so it might be wise to keep the normal kernel as well, if you want.


I don't think there is anything extra needed here, but if unsure, you might want to ask the Ubuntu Studio folks if there are any concerns or things to change elsewhere -- I highly doubt it, though.

The generic kernel is fine, and it works well. I have no problem removing the low latency kernels and it's HWE track. I just wanted to make sure I had the correct code targeting the correct HWE. You see, after 3 years I never had the nerve to mess with or even install a different kernel onto Ubuntu Studio, until your input. I have learned more than I could have thought possible. (i'm in no hurry)