You Can Now Run Linux Kernel 4.8.1 on Your Slackware 14.2 System, Here's How

GNU/Linux developer Arne Exton announced earlier today, October 10, 2016, that he made a new, special kernel based on Linux kernel 4.8.1 for Slackware and Slackware-based distributions.

Linux kernel 4.8.1 is the first point release to the Linux 4.8 series, which is the latest and most advanced stable kernel to date, and now you can install it on your Slackware operating system thanks to Arne Exton. The new build is designed for 64-bit (x86_64) installations and works with Slackware 14.2 (Current), Zenwalk, Slax, and SlackEX, but it should work on any 64-bit Slackware 14.2 derivative, such as Salix.

"I have compiled a very useful (as I think) 64-bit kernel for Slackware-Current (14.2) and/or all Slackware derivatives. For example Slax, Zenwalk and SlackEX. The kernel is compiled exactly the same way as Slackware’s latest kernel huge. 'My' kernel 4.8.1-x86_64-exton has even more support for new hardware, etc. Kernel 4.8.1 is the latest kernel available from Kernel.org. Released 20161007," says Arne Exton in the announcement.

Here's how to install Linux kernel 4.8.1 on Slackware or a derivative

If you want to deploy Mr. Exton's custom Linux 4.8.1 kernel on your Slackware 14.2 installation or a compatible derivative, we have to warn you that you'll do this at your own risk. After installation, the new kernel will overwrite the existing packages, implicitly the /boot/vmlinuz file, so make sure that you make a backup of them first.

Additionally, if you have custom GRUB bootloader setup, you'll need to back up that too. Users with Nvidia graphics cards need to be aware that they need to remove the blacklisting of the Nouveau open source video driver in both the blacklist.conf and nvidia-installer-disable-nouveau.conf files located in the /etc/modprobe.d directory.

To install this kernel, which is not supported by Slackware devs, download the linux-kernel-4.8.1-x86_64-exton.txz archive from Arne Exton's website and save it to your Home folder. Verify its integrity by using the MD5 checksum file, then extract the contents to a directory and use the following command to install the kernel. Don't forget to reboot your machine!