How To Install Kernel 6.10.7 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 6.10.7, which has been released a while go, coming with changes.

Kernel 6.10.7 highlights

Input Subsystem: Introduced a limit on the maximum number of multitouch slots to 1024 in the input subsystem, preventing potential excessive memory allocations from user space and enhancing system stability.
ksmbd Server: Fixed a race condition between destroy_previous_session() and SMB2 operations in the ksmbd server, improving file-sharing reliability by ensuring proper session management during reconnections.
BPF Selftests: Added a new self-test to verify a previous stacksafe() fix, enhancing the robustness of BPF (Berkeley Packet Filter) functionality by ensuring stack safety checks are correctly implemented.
AMD GPU Driver: Updated the AMD GPU driver to avoid pausing Dynamic Power Gating (DPG) for unified queues, delegating this responsibility to the VCN firmware, which optimizes video encoding performance.
PIDFD Handling: Reverted a previous change that prevented the creation of pidfds for kernel threads, restoring compatibility with user-space applications like systemd-shutdown that rely on this functionality.

In this guide we will be installing Kernel 6.10.7, 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 6.10.7 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 6.10.7 Packages

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

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.10.7/amd64/linux-headers-6.10.7-061007-generic_6.10.7-061007.202408291638_amd64.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.10.7/amd64/linux-headers-6.10.7-061007_6.10.7-061007.202408291638_all.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.10.7/amd64/linux-image-unsigned-6.10.7-061007-generic_6.10.7-061007.202408291638_amd64.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.10.7/amd64/linux-modules-6.10.7-061007-generic_6.10.7-061007.202408291638_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 6.10.7.

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 6.10.7.
- 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 6.10.7 (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 6.10.7 delivers essential fixes and optimizations, improving system stability, security, and performance. By capping the number of multitouch slots in the input subsystem, this update prevents excessive memory usage, ensuring a more stable user experience. Additionally, the fix for the race condition in the ksmbd server enhances file-sharing reliability, reducing potential issues during SMB2 session reconnections.

The update also strengthens BPF functionality by introducing a new self-test to verify stacksafe() behavior. This improvement reinforces system security and performance, particularly in networking and observability use cases where BPF is widely used. Furthermore, changes in the AMD GPU driver optimize power management by allowing the VCN firmware to handle Dynamic Power Gating, leading to better video encoding efficiency.

Another notable fix restores pidfd creation for kernel threads, addressing compatibility issues with applications like systemd-shutdown. This ensures smoother system shutdown processes and better interaction with user-space utilities that depend on process management mechanisms.

Overall, Linux Kernel 6.10.7 is a valuable maintenance update that refines key subsystems while fixing regressions from previous releases. Users who rely on multitouch input, GPU performance, or process management should consider upgrading to take advantage of these improvements while maintaining a stable and optimized system.

Newer Kernel 6.10.x versions are also available:

How To Install Kernel 6.10.8 On Ubuntu, Debian And Derivative Systems