How To Install Kernel 6.10.12 On Ubuntu, Debian And Derivative Systems

The Linux kernel is the core component of any Linux operating system, managing hardware resources and system processes.

In this guide we will be installing Kernel 6.10.12, which has been released a while go, coming with changes.

Kernel 6.10.12 highlights:

Powercap: Intel RAPL: Fixed an error handling issue in rapl_find_package_domain_cpuslocked() by ensuring it returns NULL on error instead of an error pointer, preventing potential system crashes.
USB: USBTMC: Addressed a kernel information leak in the usbtmc_write function by clearing the structure before filling its fields, enhancing system security.
USB: Serial (pl2303): Added device ID support for the Macrosilicon MS3020, a PL2303HXN-based device, improving compatibility with this hardware.
CAN: mcp251xfd: Moved mcp251xfd_timestamp_start() and stop() functions into mcp251xfd_chip_start() and stop() respectively, ensuring the timestamp worker is stopped before shutting down the chip, which prevents unintended wake-ups from low power or sleep modes.
NVMe-PCI: Introduced a quirk to limit the queue depth to 1 for certain devices that are unreliable with multiple outstanding commands, preventing potential data corruption.
Bluetooth: btintel_pcie: Allocated memory for driver private data (struct btintel_data) to store internal data, fixing a potential memory allocation issue.

In this guide we will be installing Kernel 6.10.12, which has been released a while go, bringing some fixes and enhancements only.

Check your current kernel version:

Before proceeding with the installation, verify your current kernel version by running:

uname -r

How to install Kernel 6.10.12 on Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Debian, and derivative systems (amd64/x86_64):

Step 1: Update Your System

Run the following commands to ensure your system is up to date:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This will update your package list and upgrade all installed packages to their latest versions.

What Does apt update Do?
This command updates the package list to reflect the latest versions available from your repositories.
What Does apt upgrade Do?
It upgrades all the packages that have new versions available while keeping existing dependencies intact.

Step 2: Download the Kernel 6.10.12 Packages

Download the necessary kernel packages from the official Ubuntu repositories or the kernel website:

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.10.12/amd64/linux-headers-6.10.12-061012-generic_6.10.12-061012.202411060323_amd64.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.10.12/amd64/linux-headers-6.10.12-061012_6.10.12-061012.202411060323_all.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.10.12/amd64/linux-image-unsigned-6.10.12-061012-generic_6.10.12-061012.202411060323_amd64.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.10.12/amd64/linux-modules-6.10.12-061012-generic_6.10.12-061012.202411060323_amd64.deb

Step 3: Install the New Kernel

Install the downloaded packages using dpkg:

sudo dpkg -i linux-headers-6.10*.deb linux-modules-6.10*.deb linux-image-6.10*.deb

Step 4: Update GRUB and Reboot

Once the kernel installation is complete, update GRUB to ensure the new kernel is recognized:

Regenerate the GRUB Configuration

Run the following command to update GRUB with the latest installed kernel:

sudo update-grub

Verify GRUB Configuration

To confirm that the new kernel has been detected, check the GRUB configuration:

cat /boot/grub/grub.cfg | grep 'menuentry'

This should list all available kernels, including Kernel 6.10.12.

Reboot the System

Restart your computer to apply the changes:

sudo reboot

Select the New Kernel (if needed) – If the system doesn’t automatically boot into the new kernel, you can manually select it:
- Hold Shift or Esc during boot to access the GRUB menu.
- Navigate to Advanced options for Ubuntu.
- Choose the entry with Kernel 6.10.12.
- Press Enter to boot.

Verifying the Installed Kernel

After rebooting, confirm the new kernel version:

uname -r

Rolling Back to a Previous Kernel

If you encounter issues with the new kernel, you can revert to an older version:

Reboot and Access the GRUB Menu -Restart your system and hold Shift or Esc to enter the GRUB boot menu.
Select Advanced options for Ubuntu – Choose an older kernel version and boot into it.
Remove Kernel 6.10.12 (if desired) – If you prefer to remove the new kernel permanently, run:

sudo apt remove linux-headers-6.10* linux-modules-6.10* linux-image-6.10*
sudo update-grub
sudo reboot

Conclusion

Linux Kernel 6.10.12 brings key fixes and improvements across various subsystems, enhancing security, stability, and hardware compatibility. The update addresses a critical issue in the Intel RAPL powercap driver, preventing potential system crashes by correctly handling error states. This fix ensures better power management, particularly for users relying on energy-efficient performance tuning.

Security enhancements are also a focus in this release, with the USBTMC fix eliminating a kernel information leak in the usbtmc_write function. This update strengthens system security by preventing unintended exposure of sensitive memory data. Similarly, improvements in the Bluetooth stack ensure proper memory allocation for btintel_pcie, reducing the risk of driver-related crashes.

Hardware compatibility sees significant updates, particularly in USB and NVMe storage. The addition of support for the Macrosilicon MS3020 device in the PL2303 driver improves connectivity for users relying on this hardware. Meanwhile, the NVMe-PCI quirk limiting queue depth to 1 for unreliable devices helps prevent data corruption, enhancing storage stability.

Overall, Linux Kernel 6.10.12 is a well-rounded maintenance release that refines power management, USB security, storage reliability, and Bluetooth functionality. Users, especially those working with Intel powercap features, USB serial devices, or NVMe storage, should consider upgrading to benefit from these critical fixes and performance enhancements.