[elrepo] Release time frame for El6 Kernel-lt 3.18

[Alan Bartlett]

On 8 October 2015 at 21:54, Duke Pham via elrepo
<elrepo at lists.elrepo.org> wrote:
> Hi Elrepo,
>
> The kernel 3.10 EOL is on Sept 30.
>
> Do we have a rough / estimated release time frame for El6 Kernel-It 3.18?
>
> Thanks
> --Duke

If you take a look at the front page of the Linux Kernel Archives [1]
you will see that the linux-3.10 branch is still being maintained and
there has been no announcement from the definitive source that that
branch has reached EOL.

The linux-3.10.90 sources were released on 2015-10-01 and they are
basis of our current kernel-lt package set for RHEL6 (and the clones).

As you quite rightly assume, development work has been taking place so
that the linux-3.18.X sources can replace the linux-3.10.X sources for
the EL6 kernel-lt package set when the latter are officially declared
EOL. The development work obviously involves building the full package
set and then inviting selected persons to test the same. Such testing
is to see if there has been any mishap in the building of the package
set and to see if there are any resultant userland problems when the
newer kernel is then used. It has already been noted that the RHEL6
acpid package does not operate with kernels built from linux-3.12
sources and above. Usage will have to be made of the acpid version two
package [2] to restore acpi functionality for the newer kernel-lt
built from linux-3.18.X sources.

As you have expressed an interest in the newer kernel-lt package, you
are invited to test the current build. Please note that there is
absolutely no guarantee that the package is fit for use and our usual
disclaimer still stands. I quote it, once again, here --

[quote]
We provide these kernels for hardware testing in an effort to identify
new/updated drivers which can then be targeted for backporting as kmod
packages. Meanwhile, these kernels may provide interim relief to
people with non-functional hardware. We stress that we consider such
kernels as a last resort for those who are unable to get their
hardware working using the RHEL kernel with supplementary kmod
packages.

These packages are provided "As-Is" with no implied warranty or
support. Using the kernel-lt may expose your system to security,
performance and/or data corruption issues. Since timely updates may
not be available from the ELRepo Project, the end user has the
ultimate responsibility for deciding whether to continue using the
kernel-lt packages in regular service.

The packages are intentionally named kernel-lt so as not to conflict
with the RHEL kernels and, as such, they may be installed and updated
alongside the regular kernel. The kernel configuration is based upon a
default RHEL configuration with added functionality enabled as appropriate.
[/quote]

If you are prepared to test the newer kernel-lt package set then it
may be obtained (excluding the kernel-lt-doc file) from the
directories below --

https://elrepo.org/people/ajb/devel/kernel-lt/el6/

Please note that you will need to use curl, wget or some other utility
to download the relevant file(s) of interest.

Alan.

[1] https://www.kernel.org/
[2] https://elrepo.org/tiki/acpid