Novell Changes Enterprise Linux Kernel Mid-Stream

darthcamaro writes "Enterprise Linux kernels, from Red Hat or Novell, don't change version numbers inside of a release, right? While that has been the case for the last decade of Red Hat and Novell releases, Novell is breaking the mold with SUSE Linux Enterprise 11 service pack one. Instead of backporting new kernel features to the kernel they originally shipped with — which maintains software and hardware vendor certification — they've re-based their Linux kernel version altogether. '"There were some things that led us to update the kernel itself, which is something that we normally don't do: Neither SLES 9 or SLES 10 got a kernel update," Markus Rex, director of open platform solutions at Novell, told InternetNews.com. "But in this particular case, after deep discussion with our ISV and hardware vendors that gave us certifications, we felt in this case a kernel update was the appropriate step to take.'"

Stability versus ABI

[Josh Triplett]

Enterprise distributions avoid kernel version upgrades for two distinct reasons: perceived stability and fixed API/ABI for third-party modules. In this case, upgrading from 2.6.27 to 2.6.32 may well improve stability, particularly since many other distributions plan to ship 2.6.32 in their next release as well. As always, any upgrade can lead to the occasional regression that enterprise customers hate, but hey, paid support means they'll get a fix. So, that just leaves API/ABI issues, hence the discussions with ISVs and such. Third-party modules keep becoming less and less important with each new kernel version, and I can readily believe that the pain of dealing with API/ABI issues no longer outweighs the benefits of new hardware support and features provided by 2.6.32.

outrageous!

[nomadic]

This is unconscionable and fills me with deep, passionate rage. I can't believe a company followed a nonstandard numbering convention for one of their releases. That's the most evil think I've ever heard and it heralds the downfall of modern society.

Re:outrageous!

[nomadic]

I think the animal adjectives should have to reflect the actual Ubuntu release, like Unstable Urchin, or Dependency-Breaking Duck.

Re:outrageous!

[Anonymous Coward]

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/

bookmark this. now you never have to go through the agony of googling a bunch of stupid animal names again. think of what you can do with all that free time.

Fixed.

Fixed.

Broken.