Additional Kernels

KaOS does not fully roll the stable kernel, once a new kernel is tested well and makes it to stable, it usually stays at the same version for about six weeks. It only is updated once a new major version reaches about 4.xx.7 or 4.xx.8. The kernel is about the biggest cause for breakage in a rolling distribution, that is why this policy. That does not mean you can’t have the latest kernel in KaOS, linux-next is fully rolling and is always at the latest version. Please follow these instructions to add this kernel to your install (and you will be helping to get the next stable kernel up in as good a shape as possible):

Linux-next

As always, update first:

sudo pacman -Syu

Next check what all depends on linux in your system:

pacman -Qi linux

Look for the line “required by=”, anything there needs the -next version, ignore only tomoyo-tools, there is no need for an extra -next version for tomoyo.

To install the latest kernel:

sudo pacman -S linux-next

and add any other -next version you had of packages in the “required by” line, examples linux-next-headers, nvidia-next.

After all is installed regenerate grub (for BIOS installs):

sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

On reboot, linux-next will be the default kernel to boot into, stable kernel is still an available choice. Do not remove the stable kernel, much better to always have two options for kernels to boot into.

For UEFI installs, add a new file to /boot/loader/entries by opening:

kdesu kate /boot/loader/entries/KaOS.conf

and edit the linux and initrd line to read as:

linux  /vmlinuz-linux-next
initrd /initramfs-linux-next.img

Save as KaOS-next.conf, and you will have the choice to boot from linux-next in the systemd-boot menu. To make it default, edit:

kdesu kate /boot/loader/loader.conf

change KaOS to KaOS-next.