CPanel doesn't update the kernel?

[quanin]

I have it set to install system packages automatically during nightly maintenance. I always figured the kernel was considered a system package, and yet CPanel doesn't update that with everything else. Is that by design? And, if yes, is there a way I can work around that? There's no exclude for it in yum.conf, and it'll let me update the kernel manually, which is the only reason I'm asking.

 

[Infopro]

Yes. Updating the kernel should be done manually.

 

[quietFinn]

It's also possible you already have newer kernel(s) in /boot. In that case you need to reboot the server to start using the new(est) kernel.

 

[quanin]

I don't have newer kernel(s) in /boot aside from the one I'm already using. That's why I asked. I just figured, you know, when you tell CPanel to update your software, it would include updating the kernel. Apparently not. Or am I missing something?

 

[cPanelKenneth]

Updating the OS kernel is a high-risk activity. We intentionally exclude the kernel from automatic updates due to this.

 

[PenguinInternet]

I quite agree - that's most definitely one thing you want to be updating manually, especially as you also have to reboot the server to make the kernel take effect and I'm sure you don't want to be doing that unattended

If you want automatic kernel updates though, KSplice is a great solution which will patch the kernel in memory and provide on the fly automatic kernel updates without needing to reboot.

 

[JayFromEpic]

I honestly cannot image automatic kernal updates. Go to sleep one night and wake up in the mornin with kernal panic errors or worse, a dead server. :P

 

[NixTree]

If you want to have automatic kernel updates on your server, install KSplice ( Never Reboot Linux for Linux Security Updates | Ksplice ) - not free though