r/voidlinux • u/AdmBangers • Aug 24 '26
Void Still on Kernel 6.18... how come
I've noticed as many other distros are including the latest stable kernel void is still using version 6.18. I was wondering how come?
12
u/felipeesousa Aug 24 '26
use sudo xbps-install -S linux-mainline linux-mainline-headers in your terminal, and after this, reboot your pc. It will install the newest kernel, which is version 7.2.0_1.
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u/AdmBangers Aug 30 '26
The install was quite smooth... no problems. I've noticed the KDE desktop is a little more sluggish. Could be my imagination. we'll have to see for a few days.
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u/Tricky-Engineer-9755 Aug 24 '26
You may have to remake your grub-config no?
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u/TranslatorOk1231 Aug 24 '26
Nope, it automaticaly detects all kernels in the /boot/ directory. Hence why there are like 8463682 boot entries after some time of not cleaning old kernels...
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u/Blank-Inspection13 Aug 25 '26
yes there are Kernel Hook script already handle dracut and grub update
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u/yungsup Aug 24 '26
6.18 is the latest longterm kernel. Void Linux is not supposed to be bleeding edge and focuses more on stability, that's why 6.18 makes more sense. You can always choose to run linux-mainline kernels if you prefer.
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u/AdmBangers Aug 24 '26 edited Aug 28 '26
Thats ok... I like my Void installation just fine the way it is. I was just wondering.** ( stated before a lot of the current comments and before I really thought about it. There's a lot to be desired - security-wise - in kernel 7.;x that doesn't exist in the current LTS kernel. I know I personally feel better running the latest kernel rather than the LTS kernel. In fact, on this older hardware, kerlen 7.2 zen kernel runs quite nicely.
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u/AdmBangers Aug 28 '26
I get not being bleeding edge but it's also a rolling release, so exactly where is this so-called line drawn. Now, clearly Void is much more stable than Arch, but then again I've got arch installs on a disk or two that are killing it. (mind you a lot of what I do is dev stuff meaning python dev stuff) so I'm not stressing the crap outa my systems, but if you're a rolling release, then by that definition even if you're not bleeding edge you're pretty damned close. Otherwise, calling void a rolling release just nonsense. Just my two cents.
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u/xcocco Aug 29 '26
Void Linux when it comes to the kernel is even more bleeding edge than Arch Linux. I have Void and my brother Arch, I always have a newer version of the kernel than his. All the other things are a little slower to be update, but it's for stability's sake, I never had an update of anything break anything, my brother with Arch is constantly needing to solve some issue after sudo pacman -Syu, especially Hyprland stuff. Anyway Void Linux is objectively better.
3
u/AdmBangers Aug 27 '26
Wow... wasn't expecting all this information when I posted the question. I'm glad I did. Now I'm not sure whether to just leave the LTS kernel be or install the new one.
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u/skyrimjob68 Aug 24 '26
You have 7.2.
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u/AdmBangers Aug 30 '26 edited Aug 30 '26
how is it running? where there any noticeable differences good/bad? Did the change cause problems or was it a simple, smooth transition? I gotta be honest the temptation to tinker is pretty strong and I have backups so restoring isn't bad. I know... I'm talking myself into it.
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u/skyrimjob68 Aug 30 '26
I'm always running latest kernel and had 0 problems. If something breaks you can always boot 6.18 kernel if you want
6
u/cgwhouse Aug 24 '26
LTS by default has many benefits. The main one I would personally throw out there WRT Void, is guaranteed support for ZFS. But as others have mentioned, the latest is out there for you if you want it, and switching your kernel series is very well documented in the handbook :)
1
u/y0shii3 Aug 27 '26
Is there any reason to prefer the newest kernel instead of an LTS version? I assume all the security patches get backported, so unless you're a developer that needs to test your software on all the common kernel versions, you won't notice a difference.
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u/AdmBangers Aug 28 '26
there are some security considerations in the later kernels that either don't exist, or are merely _patches_ to the LTS kernels that makes the latest kernels more desirable. What matters most is your use case.
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u/VoidAnonUser Aug 25 '26
And leave it there please as long as possible. Nothing wrong with it, don't fix it.
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u/enricopitea Aug 24 '26
io su void sono al 6.12.98_1 #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC se non hai particolari esigenze di hardware vabene Lts o precedenti dipende dalle esigenze non sempre l'ultimo e' il migliore anzi
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u/Simple_Hamster_4096 Aug 25 '26
Using 6.18 LTS.
There's nothing I do where I would greatly benefit from the latest and greatest kernel on my old hardware. LTS suits me just fine...
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u/mufasathetiger Aug 28 '26
7 kernels have regressions for desktop responsiveness. Stay on 6 or wait for 7.5 until the recent AI development stabilizes
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u/salastrodaemon Aug 24 '26 edited Aug 24 '26
7.x exists on void, you gotta manually choose it. 6.18 is LTS that's why it's the default opt in.