How To Upgrade Linux Kernel on Ubuntu 22.04 | Easy Steps

In this guide on the Orcacore website, we want to teach you How To Upgrade Linux Kernel on Ubuntu 22.04. The Linux kernel is a free and open-source, monolithic, modular, multitasking, Unix-like operating system kernel. Upgrading the Linux kernel can bring various benefits, including improved performance, enhanced security, and better hardware support.

In broad terms, an OS kernel performs three primary jobs:

Managing the system’s resources (CPU, memory, I/O devices).
Providing a hardware abstraction layer (HAL) to applications.
Providing a set of system calls that applications can use to interact with the kernel.

At the time of writing this article, the latest Linux kernel is 6.0. If you are curious, here are some features that are part of the Linux Kernel 6.0 release:

Support for the RISC-V architecture.
Improved support for Intel’s upcoming graphics cards.
Numerous performance improvements.
Bug fixes.
Security enhancements.

You can also check for the most latest release of Linux Kernel 6.14 Features.

To complete this guide, you must log in to your server as a non-root user with sudo privileges. To do this, you can follow our guide on the Initial Server Setup with Ubuntu 22.04.

Now, follow the steps below to complete the setup guide.

1. Update Ubuntu 22.04 Repository

First, you must update and upgrade your Ubuntu system to ensure all existing packages are up to date. To do this, run the command below:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

2. Check the Current Kernel Version on Ubuntu 22.04

At this point, use the following command to check your current Linux kernel:

uname -mrs

**Output**
Linux 5.15.0-46-generic x86_64

The given output indicates that we have Linux kernel version “5.15.0-46-generic” on our Ubuntu 22.04 system.

3. Import Jammy Mainline Tuxinvader PPA Repository

The best option to install the Linux 6.0 kernels is to install the ppa:tuxinvader/jammy-mainline by TuxInvader. This has some of the most up-to-date mainline generic kernels and the previous 5.19 kernel.

To do this, run the following command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tuxinvader/jammy-mainline -y

When you are done, update your local package index:

sudo apt-get update

4. Install Linux Kernel 6.0 on Ubuntu 22.04

Next, proceed to the installation of the Linux Kernel. Ensure that any sensitive documents are backed up in case anything goes wrong.

At this point, install the 6.0 generic Linux kernel drivers by running the following command:

sudo apt-get install linux-generic-6.0

Note: This will only work during the lifetime of Linux Kernel 6.0. After its EOL, the command will not work, and you should not be seeking to install the generic version, regardless.

When your installation is completed, you will need to reboot your system for the new kernel to be fully activated:

reboot

Once logged back into your system, run the following command to confirm the new kernel version is running:

uname -r

In your output, you will see:

**Output**
6.0.1-060001-generic

For people who love pretty printouts, install the neofetch package:

sudo apt install neofetch -y

Now print your system specs that will show the kernel version as follows:

neofetch

5. Restore the Default Kernel on Ubuntu 22.04

If you plan to restore the default kernel for any reason, follow the steps below.

First, you must remove the Jammy Mainline Tuxinvader PPA Repository. To do this, run the command below:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:tuxinvader/jammy-mainline -y

Then, run the system update:

sudo apt update

Next, use the command below to start your removal process:

sudo apt-get autoremove linux-generic-6.0* linux-headers-6.0* linux-image-unsigned-6.0* linux-modules-6.0* -y

Next, you will see the following prompt advising that you must make sure a kernel is installed or re-installed before you reboot if you remove the current kernel. Otherwise, your system will be destroyed, unbootable, broken, etc.

Press the tab key, select , and press the ENTER KEY.

At this point, you must install the default generic by using the command below:

sudo apt install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-22.04 -y

Note: You may notice it will show an output saying this is already installed. You did not remove the kernel after installing Linux Kernel 6.0; users who did this will reinstall the latest recommended kernel for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.

When you are done, reboot your system:

reboot

Now verify the kernel installed, which should be the default generic kernel.

sudo uname -r

**Output**
5.15.0-50-generic

Conclusion

At this point, you have learned to How To Upgrade Linux Kernel on Ubuntu 22.04. Upgrading the Linux kernel on Ubuntu 22.04 improves system performance, security, and hardware compatibility. It helps fix bugs, enhances stability, and supports new features.

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Alternative Methods to Upgrade Linux Kernel on Ubuntu 22.04

While the PPA method described above is a common approach, there are other ways to upgrade your Linux kernel on Ubuntu 22.04. Here are two alternative methods: using the Ubuntu Mainline Kernel Installer (UMKI) and building the kernel from source.

Method 1: Using Ubuntu Mainline Kernel Installer (UMKI)

The Ubuntu Mainline Kernel Installer (UMKI) is a GUI tool that simplifies the process of downloading and installing mainline kernels directly from the Ubuntu Kernel Team. This method offers a user-friendly interface and automates many of the steps involved in manual kernel installation.

Installation:

First, you need to install UMKI. You can download the .deb package from Launchpad. Navigate to the directory you downloaded the file to and install it using the dpkg command.

sudo dpkg -i <umki_package_name>.deb

If you encounter dependency issues, run:

sudo apt-get install -f

Usage:

Launch the Ubuntu Mainline Kernel Installer.
The application will display a list of available mainline kernels. Select the desired kernel version.
Click "Install." The installer will download and install the kernel, along with any necessary headers and modules.
Once the installation is complete, reboot your system.
After rebooting, verify the new kernel version using uname -r.

Pros:

User-friendly GUI.
Automates the download and installation process.
Handles dependencies.

Cons:

Relies on a third-party tool.
May not always be up-to-date with the very latest kernels.

Method 2: Building the Kernel from Source

Building the kernel from source gives you the most control over the kernel configuration and allows you to apply custom patches or modifications. This method is more complex and time-consuming, but it provides a deep understanding of the kernel build process. This is a more advanced method for upgrading the Linux Kernel.

Steps:

Download the Kernel Source: Obtain the kernel source code from kernel.org. Choose the desired kernel version and download the tarball.
```
wget https://cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v6.x/linux-6.0.tar.xz
```
Extract the Source Code: Extract the downloaded tarball.
```
tar -xf linux-6.0.tar.xz
cd linux-6.0
```
Configure the Kernel: This is a crucial step. You can use an existing configuration as a starting point.
```
cp /boot/config-$(uname -r) .config
make menuconfig
```
make menuconfig opens a text-based configuration interface where you can customize the kernel options. Be careful with these settings!
Build the Kernel: Compile the kernel. This process can take a significant amount of time, depending on your system’s hardware. The -j flag specifies the number of parallel jobs to use during compilation, which can speed up the process.
```
make -j$(nproc)
```
Install Modules: Install the kernel modules.
```
sudo make modules_install
```
Install the Kernel: Install the new kernel image.
```
sudo make install
```
Update Bootloader: Update your bootloader (GRUB) to recognize the new kernel.
```
sudo update-grub
```
Reboot: Reboot your system.
```
reboot
```
Verify: After rebooting, verify the new kernel version using uname -r.