I would like some opinions and suggestions on the use of kernels on your systems and what I am doing on my system.
First I am using unstable. So this only should apply to users on unstable ,
What I am doing is when a new kernel comes out (as of the time of writing this) kernel 6.15 is the latest. I started when it was an rc kernel.
I have that installed.
I also install a lts kernel and as of now it is 6.6 on my system.
That way I have a stable kernel to use if the latest doesn’t boot for some reason.
I think this is a good way to have the latest kernel and keep the system operating in case of something going wrong.
What I learned recently is 6.12 is the latest lts kernel.
So my question from a philosophy stand point is:
As my backup kernel should I install linux-lts instead of installing a specific lts kernel like 6.6 ?
Looking for opinions, suggestions, advice.
Thanks
From my point of view on Stable I have 6.6 and 6.12, and I’m currently running 6.14.
So I say go for it.
The only linux-lts package I can find in Manjaro’s repos is linux-lts-meta. However, that package will only ensure the oldest available LTS kernel is installed (currently linux54):
pamac info linux-lts-meta
Name : linux-lts-meta
Version : 5.4-1
Description : Manjaro LTS kernel meta package
URL : https://manjaro.org
Licenses : LicenseRef-None
Repository : core
Groups : --
Depends On : linux54
Optional Dependencies : --
Provides : --
Replaces : linux49 linux414 linux419
Conflicts With : linux49 linux414 linux419
Packager : Mark Wagie <mark@manjaro.org>
Build Date : Sat 04 Jan 2025 04:03:57
Validated By : MD5 Sum SHA-256 Sum Signature
Thanks I didn’t realize that Manjaro doesn’t use linux-lts as a stable kernel. I missed reading that somewhere of have forgotten. Thanks for that info.
Looks like I will just read what the latest lts kernel is . Which I believe is 6.12.
I think I read that in this forum somewhere.
I created my current Manjaro installation with Zetar and LTS 6.12, which is the only version I use. When the next LTS kernel comes out at some point, I’ll use that, and 6.12 will be the fallback. I’ve decided not to install 6.6 LTS as a fallback for now.
I use always LTS.
I think a lot of users go this way … an LTS as Plan B and a newer kernel for the day-to-day work …
My main system is 6.14 and 6.12 as the LTS kernel in the background if 6.14 would not boot. 6.12 because when I did install the system that kernel was available. I will probably not change that backup-kernel until it is EOL.
If your system is working with 6.6 and if you are using this kernel only for the purpose of “let’s have a Plan B” …
I would say “why should you move to 6.12” - you are not going to use it and if 6.6 is working it would make no sense (to me).
It’s installed but not used in regular cases - so no need to go to another LTS as backup until the installed LTS is working and not EOL.
The LTS kernel is normally the last kernel released during the calendar year. You can also keep an eye on LTS kernels at The Linux Kernel Archives - Releases:
Longterm release kernels
Version Maintainer Released Projected EOL 6.12 Greg Kroah-Hartman & Sasha Levin 2024-11-17 Dec, 2026 6.6 Greg Kroah-Hartman & Sasha Levin 2023-10-29 Dec, 2026 6.1 Greg Kroah-Hartman & Sasha Levin 2022-12-11 Dec, 2027 5.15 Greg Kroah-Hartman & Sasha Levin 2021-10-31 Dec, 2026 5.10 Greg Kroah-Hartman & Sasha Levin 2020-12-13 Dec, 2026 5.4 Greg Kroah-Hartman & Sasha Levin 2019-11-24 Dec, 2025
I’m currently running the linux615 release candidate on my machine. I also always have the latest LTS kernel (currently linux612) installed.
Another thing I just thought of is:
My Laptop that I am using Manjaro is a 2019 Laptop.
Is there a point that it is useless to have the latest kernel on an older Laptop or system.
Sorry for asking another questions in the same thread but it is part of the discussion I believe.
i’m using the linux-clear-kernel from intel for a longer time now. this kernel is avaiable from the aur. this kernel has a huge performance impact compared to the standard-kernel. it must be build but the optimization is great and the use is very simple. simply choose if your cpu is intel or amd and let’s do the build. yes to compile the kernel from scratch using menuconfig might squeeze some more performance but all over takes a way more time to do it.
As long as my PC is running good I just use the latest LTS. I’ll let those who have more time to fix things to use the latest and greatest.
@scotty65
I think I am going to go with your suggestion. Thanks for the link to the latest lts releases.
The other thing I do as a matter of preference is since I use 2 kernels on this system I feel I don’t need the fallback images. So I delete them and remove them as a choice in the grub menu.
You didn’t say how you do that - the easiest way is to edit the .preset file for each kernel version in, for example:
/etc/mkinitcpio.d/linux612.preset
and remove the word ‘fallback’ from the line starting with
PRESETS=
before:
PRESETS=('default' 'fallback')
after:
PRESETS=('default')
The fallback will then not be generated and will thus not be put in the Grub menu to begin with.
@Nachlese
Yes that is one of the steps. The other one is removal of the file in /boot
Yes. It needs to be removed from /boot once, but only once. For each new kernel version.
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