Kernel updates and the NewIT images

[jim339]

Hi,
   Back in January 2011 I installed Debian Squeeze on m Sheevaplug, using one of the ready-to-go images downloadable from NewIT.  It works well and receives regular updates.  However the kernel itself (version 2.6.34.6) is never updated, and is now a year old.  I would therefore like to update the kernel, if possible.  Can anybody explain to this noob:

- Why does the kernel not update as it does on other Linux systems ?  Eg. my Fedora laptop gets new kernels pretty regularly.

- How can the kernel be updated ?

- From reading this forum I understand that the kernel is not a Debian kernel, but just er, a kernel.  What does that really mean ?

Jim.

[Confusticated]

Why - Because the 'other' systems are not 'embedded' systems, they keep their software on hard disks, whilst you keep your 'firmware' on flash.
Distro's are not currently geared up for updating embedded systems, and arguably, it is not necessarily a good thing to do.

How - It has been covered in length on this forum, just use the search facility.

From - Because it isn't (from a Debian Distro), I get the source from kernel.org and compile my own.

I would like to ask you.....

*Why* do you want to upgrade your kernel ?

[PacoLM]

http://www.plugcomputer.org/plugforum/index.php?topic=5962.0

This will help to upgrade your kernel.

[leighbb]

*Why* do you want to upgrade your kernel ?

Presumably, security fixes.  I guess that would only apply if you were using your plug computer in a situation where it would be exposed to security threats.

For example, I use one of my dreamplugs as a firewall (where it performs superbly).  In this use case, installing updating kernels with fixes for security vulnerabilities is essential.

I'm sure there are many use cases where the risk is low and you don't need to bother, but for me if it is connected to the internet or the wireless is switched on, you should at least be thinking about it.

[Confusticated]

for me if it is connected to the internet or the wireless is switched on, you should at least be thinking about it

I am pleased to read that, please post how you get on, even any difficulties you experience can be useful to others.

Updating the kernel can be as easy as copying the new one and it's modules into place, the issue is where you get the kernel from.
Unless you have specific requirements, copying the uImage and modules from a recent New IT image is the quickest route.
The link posted by PacoLM is also a useful 'plug friendly' method.

The only way to get a newer kernel than that is to build your own.

[NewIT_James]

The kernels kindly provided by sheeva.with-linux.com aka cbxbiker61 are the best place to find kernel updates.

http://sheeva.with-linux.com/sheeva/

Either follow the link provied by PacoLM or simply download the uImage and Modules.tar.gz, copy and rename the uImage to partition 1 and extract the modules into partition2 (root).

[jim339]

Hi leighbb, I am somewhat jealous of your dreamplug firewall.  How do you keep it's kernel up to date ?  My sheevaplug is also internet facing hence regular security updates are essential.

Following instructions from James I have downloaded sheeva-3.1-modules.tar.gz and sheeva-3.1-uImage but have not tried them yet.

[leighbb]

Hi leighbb, I am somewhat jealous of your dreamplug firewall.  How do you keep it's kernel up to date ?  My sheevaplug is also internet facing hence regular security updates are essential.

Following instructions from James I have downloaded sheeva-3.1-modules.tar.gz and sheeva-3.1-uImage but have not tried them yet.

I build my own kernels, but if I were you I'd start with the sheeva.with-linux.com kernels.

[jim339]

I guess what I don't understand is the whole area of Linux software distribution.  Despite being a unix sys admin for 22 years, I am not exactly sure who is publishing these updates for the various architectures and Linux flavours, or how it all works.

For example, my sheevaplug just got an automatic update for what look like security libraries (iceweasel libmozjs2d libnss3-1d libpq5 libssl0.9.8 openssl xulrunner-1.9.1).  I saw these coming from squeeze/updates.  That's great, but who wrote those updates ? NewIT ?  Martin Michlmayr ?  Debian project people ?  And do those self same authors (thank you whoever you are) publish updated kernels also ?  I don't want to compile my own for now.

Yours in general bafflement,
Jim.
PS if this ever gets explained I will blog or write a full article here.

[NewIT_James]

Jim,

The Squeeze updates you received were from Debian.

Sheeva.with-linux.com is the best source for kernels, they are precompiled from the kernel.org source with some Sheeva specific patches and .config

[jim339]

The Squeeze updates you received were from Debian.

But what does "from debian" mean ?  You mean the Debian project people wrote these updates ?  Were they writing for ARM generally or specifically for the Sheevaplug ?  And what is the relationship between the Debian project people, NewIT images and kernels at Sheeva.with-linux.com ?  Is one built on the other ?  I have an awful feeling the answer would involve words like upstream, downstream and even mainstream.

I get that Sheeva.with-linux.com is a good source for Sheevaplug kernels.  As said I downloaded their latest but have not tried it yet.

Jim.