Query about the kernel and kernel packages

[Silverflames]

I've been looking at a server and the kernel packages installed. It's got the following on.


kernel-2.6.9-55.EL
kernel-smp-2.6.9-55.EL
kernel-devel-2.6.9-42.0.10.EL
kernel-devel-2.6.9-42.EL
kernel-hugemem-devel-2.6.9-42.0.10.EL
kernel-smp-2.6.9-42.0.10.EL
kernel-smp-2.6.9-42.EL
kernel-smp-devel-2.6.9-42.0.10.EL


From what I've learnt you should remove old kernel packages once updated. I would also assume if another package had been updated, then you would remove that as well.

This server has various other kernel packages that have not been updated. My question is what is the point of keeping them. Would packages like kernel-devel-2.6.9-42.0.10.EL & kernel-hugemem-devel-2.6.9-42.0.10.EL be serving some purpose on the server? I would assume not since they are referring to a kernel which has been updated and not being used.

[theNbomr]

I would interpet this as Redhat giving you all the 2.6.9-42 Kernels that could potentially run on your host, with a safe default. It is then left up to you to determine which one is best for your purposes. Once you determined that one or more are unsuitable for your purpose, you can delete them. You would then want to also delete the respective initrd's, symbol files, and entries in the bootloader config file.
--- rod.