How To Install Kernel 6.13.7 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 6.13.7, which has been released a while go, coming with changes:

• Wi-Fi: Resolved an issue in the iwlwifi driver related to TSO (TCP Segmentation Offload) preparation, ensuring proper allocation of scatter-gather data structures based on the number of memory chunks to be mapped.
• NVMe over TCP: Corrected an error message in the nvme-tcp module concerning the C2HTermReq PDU, ensuring accurate reporting of data transfer limit exceedances.
• ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture): Fixed a build error in the Realtek codec driver by replacing a questionable IS_REACHABLE() usage with a hard compile-time dependency on CONFIG_INPUT, ensuring proper functionality of input code when the HDA driver is built-in.
• Build System: Addressed a cross-compilation issue with Clang in the header check (hdrcheck) by incorporating KBUILD_CPPFLAGS, which contain the target architecture, to ensure proper building of headers.
• IIO (Industrial I/O): Fixed an incorrect scale available list in the ad7606 ADC driver, ensuring accurate reporting of available scales.

Check your current kernel version:

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

uname -r

How to install Kernel 6.13.7 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 6.13.7 Packages

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

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.13.7/amd64/linux-headers-6.13.7-061307-generic_6.13.7-061307.202503131244_amd64.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.13.7/amd64/linux-headers-6.13.7-061307_6.13.7-061307.202503131244_all.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.13.7/amd64/linux-image-unsigned-6.13.7-061307-generic_6.13.7-061307.202503131244_amd64.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.13.7/amd64/linux-modules-6.13.7-061307-generic_6.13.7-061307.202503131244_amd64.deb

Step 3: Install the New Kernel

Install the downloaded packages using dpkg:

sudo dpkg -i linux-headers-6.13*.deb linux-modules-6.13*.deb linux-image-6.13*.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 ConfigurationRun 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 6.13.7.

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 6.13.7.
  • 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 6.13.7 (if desired) – If you prefer to remove the new kernel permanently, run:

sudo apt remove linux-headers-6.13* linux-modules-6.13* linux-image-6.13*
sudo update-grub
sudo reboot

Conclusion

Linux Kernel 6.13.7 is a maintenance release focused on bug fixes and stability improvements across networking, audio, and hardware compatibility. The Wi-Fi driver fix ensures better TCP segmentation handling, while corrections in NVMe over TCP improve data transfer error reporting. ALSA sound architecture updates address build errors, ensuring smoother integration for Realtek codecs.

Enhancements in the build system improve cross-compilation reliability, particularly with Clang, and fixes in Industrial I/O (IIO) drivers ensure accurate data reporting for ADC devices.

With these refinements, Kernel 6.13.7 enhances system stability, performance, and hardware support, making it a solid update for Linux users and developers alike.

Newer Kernel 6.13.x version available:

How To Install Kernel 6.13.8 On Ubuntu, Debian And Derivative Systems