14 DAY TRIAL // Linux Lite users are once again among the first to install the latest Linux kernel series on their personal computer, in this case the just released Linux 5.1 kernel.
Linux kernel 5.1 arrived over the weekend as the first major update to the Linux 5.0 kernel series, adding numerous new features and a bunch of improvements. Highlights include preparations for year 2038, configurable Zstd compression levels for the Btrfs file system, as well as support for cumulative patches in live kernel patching.
Additionally, Linux kernel 5.1 introduces the ability to use persistent memory as RAM in addition to the physical memory, support for booting a system to a device-mapper device bypassing initramfs, a new cpuidle governor called TEO (Timer Events Oriented), faster and scalable asynchronous I/O, and better file system monitorization.
Linux Lite developer and founder Jerry Bezencon was quick to offer the new Linux 5.1 kernel to users of his Linux Lite 4.x and Linux Lite 3.x operating system series, allowing them to install the latest Linux kernel version on their systems if they require support for specific hardware.
Here's how to install Linux kernel 5.1 on Linux Lite
If want to run the latest Linux 5.1 kernel on your Linux Lite 4.x or Linux Lite 3.x installations, you can now install it from the official software repositories by opening the Lite Tweaks utility from pplications Menu > System and selecting the Kernel Installer feature. You can also install Linux kernel 5.1 by running the commands below in a terminal emulator.
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install linux-headers-linuxlite-5.1.0 linux-image-linuxlite-5.1.0 -y
Keep in mind though that once Linux kernel 5.1 was successfully installed, you will have to reboot your computer for any changes to take effect. Also, you should keep in mind that this new kernel is only recommended to those who need support for specific hardware components that are not supported by the current Linux kernel versions available for Linux Lite.
"If you use proprietary drivers, this kernel may break functionality with those drivers. If you have proprietary drivers installed and you still decide to go ahead with this kernel install, you should be competent in repairing your drivers. If you aren't, DO NOT install this kernel," said developer Jerry Bezencon.