Linux Kernel 4.16 Released, Here's How To Easily Install In Kubuntu And KDE Neon

Konsole showing Linux Kernel 4.16
installed (via running neofetch)

Announced recently over on the Linux Kernel mailing list was that the new 4.16 Kernel was now available for download. Like always, the Ubuntu Kernel Team took no time making it available for users of Ubuntu based systems, including KDE Neon, Kubuntu, Maui Linux, and others. This was quite an upgrade with lots of changes, fixes, security patches, and improvements.

In general, if you are wondering why someone may want to install a new kernel on their Linux computer, you probably don't need to install one. Distributions generally do a great job of keeping kernels relatively up-to-date with bug fixes and security enhancements. Some of us, however, like to stay more current in order to get enhancements and bug fixes faster. This may be especially true of owners of new hardware or those using open source graphics drivers (namely, Intel and AMD) who want to get the best compatibility and user-experience possible.

As some of you may know, Phoronix is a great website to keep up with Linux kernel  information, and they provide detailed articles on the latest and greatest new features and security enhancements to be found. I will link you to their kernel 4.16 series highlights article if you desire further reading on what's all new in kernel 4.16^[1]. In summary, If you are reading this, odds are there's a reason why you would be looking to test out and or possibly move to a newer kernel than offered by your distribution's normal update channels' and if so, here is how to easily go about doing that.

Installing kernel 4.16

 

Ukuu kernel utility

You may recall earlier we highlighted the Ykuu kernel update utility^[2] and it's general ease of use for installing, removing, and managing the Kernels installed on your Ubuntu-compatible Linux computer. As far as installing the new kernel goes, this would be how we would recommend going about it if you're running a compatible operating system. Once Ukuu is installed, simply refresh your kernel list in Ukuu, pick the new 4.16 release, and press install. Couldn't be simpler. Ukuu also provides instructions on how to recover in the unlikely event that something goes wrong.

Ukuu kernel update utility showing
Linux kernel 4.16 installed

Command Line

If you would like to install using the command line, that's also a relatively simple task. First, create an empty folder on your computer - putting a new folder named "latest kernel" in your Downloads folder - for example. Next, go to the Ubuntu Mainline kernel download page^[3], do a sort (descending) by name so that the latest releases are at the top. Then, select the following files for download for 64-bit systems and download using your browser or KGet to the folder you created earlier:

linux-headers-4.16.0-041600_4.16.0-041600.201804012230_all.deb

linux-headers-4.16.0-041600-generic_4.16.0-041600.201804012230_amd64.deb

linux-image-4.16.0-041600-generic_4.16.0-041600.201804012230_amd64.deb

Then, open Dolphin file manager and go to where you downloaded the kernels to.  After pressing <F4> to show the terminal, enter the following command to perform the installation:

sudo dpkg -i linux*

and that is all there is to it. When you reboot, you will be running the latest Linux kernel.

Running the 'dpkg' command in Dolphin's
terminal to install downloaded kernel files

Whatever the reason for wanting to install a new Linux kernel, hopefully utilizing one of these methods makes the task an easy and enjoyable one for you.

Links:

[1] - A Look At The Plethora Of Linux 4.16 Kernel Features & Changes
[2] - Using Ukuu To Keep Up With The Latest Mainline Kernels
[3] - Index of /~kernel-ppa/mainline (All Mainline Ubuntu Kernels)

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