On Tue, Aug 18, 2009 at 10:43:33AM +0200, Eberhard Moenkeberg wrote: [ 8< ]
But to keep the running kernel still has to get implemented...
No. It _is_ already implemented but it also unfortunately is _off_ by default. See the multiversion setting examples from /etc/zypp/zypp.conf. At least openSUSE 11.1 has it. It was suggested several times to always keep the currently running kernel and to install the new one in addition only. A member of the SUSE feature heaven decided this isn't required. I still consider this as an important, enterprise feature we need. And it has to be enabled by default. Here are again the conditions: a) Always keep the currently running kernel. Never ever remove it. We might need it to get the box back online if the new kernel fails to boot.[1] b) Remove all other kernel packages which don't have the kernel version of the kernel from a). c) Install the new kernel. Following this approach we ensure two goals: a) Keep the known to run kernel installed. We're always able to boot again the old, previously, last working kernel! b) Don't add more and more kernel packages which would include the risk to use all remaining disk space. This is in particular important for systems with a limited space at /boot/. This feature has to run out of the box without any tweaking of /etc/zypp/zypp.conf. Why? No end user out there - even an experienced one - knows about this strage named tool. And honestly nobody should be required to know about zypper. This simply must work. More useful options needed/ possible? Some of you might need to boot a rescue system from time to time. In this case kernel modules available from inside the chroot mounted system and the rescue system might not fit. Here a sysconfig setting might help to blacklist the removal of a particular kernel package/ version. Lars [1] Kernel and boot loader dudes: I know you and our users expect this to work. But unfortunateöy this sucking reality sometimes decides different and causes unintendend hands on sessions in a data center from time to time. -- Lars Müller [ˈlaː(r)z ˈmʏlɐ] Samba Team SUSE Linux, Maxfeldstraße 5, 90409 Nürnberg, Germany