Linux-stable kernel or Linux-lts kernel

I have some doubts about the Linux-lts kernel which I have installed on my EndeavourOS Linux distribution and I was testing it today (October 9, 2024) and I had some problems with the video and then I restarted the computer and installed the vanilla Linux kernel and everything was fine, but my doubts are related to the correct operation of old hardware with the updated kernel. What can you recommend?

I always have both installed, even on my test machines/VMs, just in case one has an issue. Unless the latest kernel removes support for older devices that youā€™re using, Iā€™d stay on that one.

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Or the newer has a problem (in my case, current has wifi interface beaconing issues, where LTS doesnā€™t)ā€¦so run what works for you.

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I have the Linux-LTS kernel and I use it exclusively. It seems more like a configuration mishap to me.

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I would install the normal and the LTS kernel. If there are problems you can still use the LTS kernel and vice versa.

An example from the 2nd quarter of 2024:

My parentsā€™ laptop (Dell Inspiron 16 5645 with Ryzen 7 8840U) could not shut down completely with the LTS kernel. It looked like the laptop had shut down but that was not the case and it continued to run with the display off and after a while it got warm and the fan started up. With the normal kernel there was no problem and it was able to shut down normally.

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I have both installed on my system, LTS as a backup but the main stable one as daily use. I am sure there are other uses or reasons to have both but these are mine.

An edit needs to be made in to GRUB (I use GRUB, Iā€™m unsure if anything needs to be done on Systemd-boot) though otherwise it will keep booting in to LTS (Or sometimes Live) as default and wonā€™t save the recent selected boot option.

I may have slightly misread the description of the topic so what I wrote may not be relevant. But just wondering if the system is booting to the correct kernel you are expecting.

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My 2 cents:

  • keep both, if using nvidia-dksm and systemd-boot instead of grub you may need a bigger partition (1.5 GB) to keep them
  • while normally the LTS kernel is more stable, months ago nvidia published an update which was not running on it, so the newer one was actually the only working one
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You use whatever works for you. It is that simple. There is not ā€œone size fits allā€. If LTS works for you, go for it. If the latest stable kernel works for you go for it.

But you should always have 2 different kernels installed. Thats a precaution - just in case. Install LTS and latest stable and use what works for you.

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The beauty of Linux is you can have as many kernels as you want and switch between them as you want. I have stable, hardened, zen and lts, because I like switching between them. I use hardened mainly, though.

I do recommend, as everyone else, to keep LTS as a backup just in case, and to not install its headers in case of faulty modules.

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If the system is booting correctly on both LTS and Stable Linux. I have both for various uses, but I had some doubts about the LTS.

Seeing as both work, itā€™s now entirely down to personal preference @TmgEng.

If you experience no issues at all on the standard kernel (or even Zen kernel), you might continue using it, with the LTS installed as your backup plan. As mentioned, having the LTS installed is sensible for any system, as a means of restoring a working system if an update to the standard kernel trips things over.

One day, you might find the standard kernel stops supporting something in your system. That day, you may then choose to rely on the LTS.

Or, you can just use the LTS kernel. Even so, Iā€™d suggest keeping the standard kernel installed as the backup option.

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Thank you very much for the recommendations given. I am using the Stable Linux Kernel and is there a possibility that older laptops will no longer be supported on this branch of the Linux kernel?

Actually, the difference between the ā€œmainā€ & LTS kernels is that the LTS is more conservative. In no way does this mean that is ā€œoldā€, ā€œoutdatedā€ or what.
The ā€œmainā€ kernel is more up-to-date with new goodies that are being getting released. Itā€™s more suited for new/bleeding-edge hardware.
You can use & trust either of them, with no worries.
In practice now & from my personal experience: Iā€™ve found myself needing to switch from one to the other on very rare occasions. A little more often, on NVidia cards.
My recommendation is to have them both installed.

i recommend booth because if there is something with the Linux-stable kernel you can use Linux-its kernel. also install what what works the best for you

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I have some doubts regarding the Linux-zen kernel, I would like to know the advantages and disadvantages of this kernel for not so modern machines.

It really comes down to testing these personally, and itā€™s a trivial thing to do so. If youā€™d like to experience the difference of the Zen kernel, install it, run it, and see how it feels.

People can say itā€™s snappier, or not, but ultimately it comes down to hardware and use cases.

Testing it is free. Do so. Doesnā€™t work out? Get rid of it.

Hi,

Can you run ā€˜inxi -bā€™ from terminal so we can get your computer hardware details.

Before I pick a kernel I always consider the hardware I am using

Personally Iā€™ve never had the need to run on the lts kernel on any of my systems. :person_shrugging:

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I have on my server because the dkms zfs module gets behind and incompatible. Iā€™m actually running LTS on the desktop now because the wireless driver has been updated in current and beacons constantly :frowning: Iā€™m going to try the current kernel again when 6.12 releases and hope.