How To Install Kernel 6.10.8 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 6.10.8, which has been released a while go, coming with changes.

Kernel 6.10.8 Highlights

• NFS Server (nfsd): Fixed an issue in nfsd4_deleg_getattr_conflict to handle third-party leases correctly, enhancing NFS server reliability.
• AppArmor: Resolved a problem in policy_unpack_test on big-endian systems by adding missing endianness conversions, improving security module accuracy.
• SCSI (aacraid) Driver: Addressed a double-free error during probe failures in the aacraid driver, increasing storage subsystem stability.
• Firmware (Microchip): Corrected an incorrect error report of programming timeouts on success in the Microchip firmware driver, ensuring accurate status reporting.
• ARM64 Device Trees: Fixed a typo in the SD-Card cd-gpios assignment and corrected CMA alloc-ranges in Freescale i.MX93 TQMa9352 device trees, improving hardware compatibility.

In this guide we will be installing Kernel 6.10.8, 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 6.10.8 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 6.10.8 Packages

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

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.10.8/amd64/linux-headers-6.10.8-061008-generic_6.10.8-061008.202409040917_amd64.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.10.8/amd64/linux-headers-6.10.8-061008_6.10.8-061008.202409040917_all.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.10.8/amd64/linux-image-unsigned-6.10.8-061008-generic_6.10.8-061008.202409040917_amd64.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.10.8/amd64/linux-modules-6.10.8-061008-generic_6.10.8-061008.202409040917_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 6.10.8.

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 6.10.8.
  • 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 6.10.8 (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 6.10.8 delivers crucial fixes that enhance system stability, security, and hardware compatibility. The update improves NFS server reliability by correctly handling third-party leases, which is particularly beneficial for users running networked storage solutions. Additionally, the AppArmor security module now correctly processes policies on big-endian systems, ensuring more accurate security enforcement across different architectures.

In the storage subsystem, the fix for a double-free error in the aacraid SCSI driver prevents potential crashes and improves overall system reliability. Similarly, the correction in the Microchip firmware driver ensures accurate reporting of programming timeouts, helping users diagnose firmware-related issues more effectively. These improvements contribute to a more robust and predictable kernel experience, especially in enterprise environments.

For ARM64 users, the fixes in device tree configurations improve compatibility with SD cards and memory allocation settings on Freescale i.MX93-based hardware. These refinements make it easier to deploy Linux on embedded systems and specialized ARM-based devices, ensuring smooth operation with correct hardware configurations.

Overall, Linux Kernel 6.10.8 is a solid maintenance update that addresses critical bugs across multiple subsystems. Users who rely on NFS, AppArmor, SCSI storage, firmware management, or ARM64-based hardware should consider upgrading to benefit from these fixes and maintain system reliability.

Newer Kernel 6.10.x versions are also available:

How To Install Kernel 6.10.9 On Ubuntu, Debian And Derivative Systems