what is your bbq kernel update philosphy, and why?

[pidsley]

The recent issues with the towo 3.13 kernel made me wonder how people here maintain their kernels. Do you use the rolling version ("linux-image-686-pae" for example), so you get continual updates? Or do you install a fixed numbered version, and update the kernel regularly? Or do you prefer keeping a single kernel for as long as you can? And what made you choose this particular philosophy?

This is not about towo vs liquorix vs Debian, but more about how you maintain whatever you pick.

I'll stay out of the discussion and poll for a bit but vote eventually.

[GekkoP]

I voted for 'I use the rolling version. I want the newest kernel as soon as possible'.
Why? Because a rolling kernel (and a rolling release) gets me the feeling of experimenting. I love it, and basically that's why I moved from #! to BBQ a while ago. I like getting new kernel releases and see what differences (if any) they make on my PCs. What happened with 3.13 is really interesting, for instance, and I hope one day to understand that issue.
That could also be said for a rolling release in general and it's directly linked to the fact the I dist-upgrade on daily base. But let's keep it on topic.

[pidsley]

Thank you. Have you seen much difference in the kernels (other than the one that broke :)?

[wuxmedia]

Typically lazy option.
Whatever it comes with, and works, is the one for me.
on a side note, normally I would have put -Never Update-.

But I tried to fix a funny bug my system this morning with MB on IRC. Turns out I couldn't find the new(ish) kernel - I hadn't even updated...
didn't fix the problem, but it did show me how easy it is to upgrade a kernel. ASSuming it all works OK from the get go.

^ I wouldn't really delve too far or pay too much attention to system stats anymore to know if it made a difference.

[GekkoP]

Thank you. Have you seen much difference in the kernels (other than the one that broke :)?

So far, nothing really serious. One thing though: 3.13-3.towo is a couple of MB heavier on RAM than 3.12-8. So yeah, nothing serious.
On my Aspire though, there's the latest Debian kernel, 3.12-1, and with sysv at boot, is my lightest machine on RAM usage. Funny, cause it's my oldest computer.

[machinebacon]

Always rolling here (linux-image-siduction-686), but I keep an older kernel as fallback (2-3 revisions back).
On one partition I track and install different kernels (the GNU kernel from "deb http://linux-libre.fsfla.org/pub/linux-libre/freesh freesh main" and/or the slh kernel every now and then)

[kexolino]

Rolling, when I actually use an up to date distro (the case nowadays). I just like to have the option the test out the more obvious new stuff, like the new dynamic power management...

[hinto]

I chose Other.
I generally go with the latest, until the recent ATI hiccups with newer kernels.
-Hinto

[pidsley]

^ do you use the rolling package, and only downgrade when necessary?

[DebianJoe]

I tend to run whatever I feel like on a given day. I've got a few releases that I don't update Kernels on, some that I roll per offered update, and some that I'll pull and build from kernel.org or from Experimental's tree if I don't want to watch the compiler run.

I offer no method for the madness. The differences in kernel versions seldom have a noticeable effect on the hardware that I use primarily due to their age.

[dkeg]

I use the rolling. I don't think it matters much, I don't really see any difference performance wise. But still, always curious if I will.

And like MB, I leave a few in the rears just in case there are needs to revert back.

[hinto]

^ do you use the rolling package, and only downgrade when necessary?

Yes.

[4eyes]

I use whatever it came with, except on my music making installs, where I use whatever RT kernel I can get my hands on for that distro.

For what I am using it for, I am sure that I don't actually need the RT kernel, I just do it to get brownie points with those how think it IS needed.

I am shallow like that.

[machinebacon]

Little info: siduction's towo kernels are RT enabled ;)

[4eyes]

hmmm.... useful - question is, do I junk my AVlinux install and go through all the time and trouble to build my own personal spin for my music stuff? ... or do I start with Rocks and just remove stuff?

The answer clearly is 'yes' to both questions - cos that's where the fun is, right? :)

[ivanovnegro]

I voted 'other' because this time I was not paying attention to OPs first post. :) Because I use the standard Debian kernels and thought Pidsley meant with BBQ kernel, the Towo kernels from Siduction.

In reality I also use the rolling version linux-image-686-pae because I use it since the beginnings. There is no philosophy behind, I am a Sid user and obviously go with the newest that Debian offers and it works pretty well for me, better than with any of the other kernels with some exceptions. I have always one older kernel as a backup.

[ChefIronBelly]

A little of everything just depends on how the wind blows if its a stable box or experimenting one.

[vic]

If I am going to roll, I am going to roll. No real philosophy for me.

[bizcuit]

Not on a rolling distro atm,

Got lazy and tired by prospect of maintenance ( constant flood of updates) and the poss borkage. Don't have a set policy in place for upgrading a nix kernel. Depends on the distro, the hardware and any potential benefits involved. Mostly like a set it + forget it approach. As long as the kern v works well and there's no overriding reason to mess with it am likely to leave things alone.

2 babble cents n a hiya to Pids ( hope things are well w you dude) Vll! :)

[vic]

^I do understand bizcuit, have the same feelings myself sometimes:)