How to upgrade bookwork kernel from backports

[klugja]

Given that my Debian system is running on bookworm, and backports is configured, what is the recommended method of upgrading the kernel from backports?

For instance, I see:

Code: Select all

$ sudo apt upgrade -t bookworm-backports linux-image-6.5*
Calculating upgrade... Done
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 linux-image-6.5.0-0.deb12.4-amd64 : Conflicts: linux-image-6.5.0-0.deb12.4-amd64-unsigned but 6.5.10-1~bpo12+1 is to be installed
 linux-image-6.5.0-0.deb12.4-amd64-unsigned : Conflicts: linux-image-6.5.0-0.deb12.4-amd64 but 6.5.10-1~bpo12+1 is to be installed
 linux-image-6.5.0-0.deb12.4-cloud-amd64 : Conflicts: linux-image-6.5.0-0.deb12.4-cloud-amd64-unsigned but 6.5.10-1~bpo12+1 is to be installed
 linux-image-6.5.0-0.deb12.4-cloud-amd64-unsigned : Conflicts: linux-image-6.5.0-0.deb12.4-cloud-amd64 but 6.5.10-1~bpo12+1 is to be installed

I thought you could have two kernels installed simultaneously, but apparently no more?

[CwF]

I would expect the stable linux-image metapackage is still installed, and is expecting to handle the choice. If you remove it, then all kernel choices are yours.

[klugja]

I found that using the wildcard is good for getting the list of possible kernels, but you have to pick one to install.

Code: Select all

ii  linux-image-6.1.0-18-amd64                    6.1.76-1                             amd64        Linux 6.1 for 64-bit PCs (signed)
ii  linux-image-6.5.0-0.deb12.4-amd64             6.5.10-1~bpo12+1                     amd64        Linux 6.5 for 64-bit PCs (signed)
ii  linux-image-amd64                             6.1.76-1                             amd64        Linux for 64-bit PCs (meta-package)

So you cannot install all varieties of 6.5.0.
I did this and it worked:

Code: Select all

 sudo apt-get install linux-image-6.5.0-0.deb12.4-amd64

[sunrat]

You can use apt list to search for matching packages eg.:

Code: Select all

apt list linux-image-6.5*

You can run it as user, no need for privilege escalation.
Also it is advisable to install the matching linux-headers... package for your kernel.

And if you wish to have your backports kernel upgraded with regular system upgrades:

Code: Select all

apt install -t bookworm-backports linux-image-amd64 linux-headers-amd64

of course that will replace the stable version so your default stable kernel won't be upgraded automatically any more.