Kernel Drama

[brm]

Hi all. Using Mageia 8 with updates. This system has been updated from earlier versions and is a dual boot machine. It shares an older version of OpenSuse. MBR is /dev/sda.

I have have a mass of kernels with kernel-devel and virtualbox kernels that I am struggling with. I wanted to make use of Virtualbox which has sat dormant for some time. It will not work because of a mismatch between the installed virtualbox modules and the Virtualbox that comes with the distro (Version 6.1.36_Mageia r152435). Thus I need to sort through these kernels. I have studied the forum and googled on this as well.
uname -a
Linux Mageia 5.10.41-desktop-1.mga8 #1 SMP Fri May 28 14:12:17 UTC 2021 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

$ sudo rpm -qa | grep kernel | sort
[sudo] password for brm:
kernel-desktop-5.10.41-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.10.43-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.10.45-2.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.10.46-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.10.48-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.10.52-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.10.56-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.10.60-2.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.10.62-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.10.70-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.10.75-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.10.78-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.10-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.11-3.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.15-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.16-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.18-2.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.23-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.25-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.28-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.32-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.35-2.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.41-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.4-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.43-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.46-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.55-2.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.58-2.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.62-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.6-2.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.10.43-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.10.45-2.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.10.46-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.10.48-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.10.52-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.10.56-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.10.60-2.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.10.62-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.10.70-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.10.75-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.10.78-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.10-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.11-3.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.15-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.16-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.18-2.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.23-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.25-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.28-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.32-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.35-2.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.41-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.4-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.43-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.46-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.55-2.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.58-2.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.62-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.6-2.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-latest-5.15.62-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-latest-5.15.62-1.mga8
kernel-firmware-20201218-1.mga8
kernel-firmware-nonfree-20220815-1.mga8.nonfree
kernel-linus-source-5.10.41-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-userspace-headers-5.15.62-1.mga8
virtualbox-kernel-5.10.41-desktop-1.mga8-6.1.22-1.5.mga8
virtualbox-kernel-5.15.41-desktop-1.mga8-6.1.34-1.7.mga8
virtualbox-kernel-5.15.62-desktop-1.mga8-6.1.36-1.10.mga8
virtualbox-kernel-desktop-latest-6.1.36-1.10.mga8

I would dearly love to be using a recent kernel, and the appropriate virtualbox modules.
The Mageia MCC - boot configure module is does not work here. It closes with error.
I have installed and used Grub Customizer. This works to some extent but I cannot get past default 5.10.41-desktop-1.mga8 for some reason.
Any help appreciated.
I may be able to go ahead and delete more kernels on the command line, but wish to be sure I have a booting system. I am worried about removing important parts rendering the system unbootable.

Any ideas - suggestions on how to proceed?

[benmc]

you can safely remove the all kernels but the following:

Code: Select all

kernel-desktop-5.10.41-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.41-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.62-1.mga8-1-1.mga8

kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.41-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.62-1.mga8-1-1.mga8

virtualbox-kernel-5.10.41-desktop-1.mga8-6.1.22-1.5.mga8
virtualbox-kernel-5.15.41-desktop-1.mga8-6.1.34-1.7.mga8
virtualbox-kernel-5.15.62-desktop-1.mga8-6.1.36-1.10.mga8

reason Virtualbox is not working is you are booting into

Code: Select all

kernel-desktop-5.10.41-1.mga8-1-1.mga8

but have no corresponding

Code: Select all

kernel-desktop-devel-5.10.41-1.mga8-1-1.mga8

Can you give result of

Code: Select all

update-grub2

from Mageia after removing the kernels.

which distribution is controlling your grub?, usually it is the last installed.

when you boot, is the boot grub menu the Mageia one?
if not, boot to the other system and update grub from there.

[brm]

Thanks - working on it.
Grub customizer (Mageia) says it is writing to the MBR - but the results are not convincing. Better I use OpenSuse to update Grub2.
Cheers

[morgano]

There is a couple script suggested to help removing surplus kernels.

Bug 24403 - Feature request : tool to remove old kernels

[sturmvogel]

According the (scarce) information you provided, the problem is clear. You are using the openSUSE bootloader to boot into Mageia. Everytime you get a new kernel in Mageia you need to rebuild your openSUSE bootloader so that the latest Mageia kernel gets recognized.

OpenSUSE installs one bootloader and Mageia installs one bootloader. They are separate and needs to get updated seperately. You are meddling with grub-customizer and the Mageia bootloader. But the openSUSE bootloader don't recognize these changes until you update openSUSE bootloader again.To prevent such a mess you need to set up proper chainloading of bootloaders.

[brm]

Thanks all. These directions, ideas, suggestions have had a positive result.
The list of installed kernels is much more respectable and my understanding of the dual boot process is improving all the time.

sudo rpm -qa | grep kernel | sort
[sudo] password for brm:
kernel-desktop-5.10.41-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.41-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-5.15.62-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.10.41-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.41-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-5.15.62-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-desktop-devel-latest-5.15.62-1.mga8
kernel-firmware-20201218-1.mga8
kernel-firmware-nonfree-20220815-1.mga8.nonfree
kernel-linus-source-5.10.41-1.mga8-1-1.mga8
kernel-userspace-headers-5.15.62-1.mga8
virtualbox-kernel-5.10.41-desktop-1.mga8-6.1.22-1.5.mga8
virtualbox-kernel-5.15.41-desktop-1.mga8-6.1.34-1.7.mga8
virtualbox-kernel-5.15.62-desktop-1.mga8-6.1.36-1.10.mga8
virtualbox-kernel-desktop-latest-6.1.36-1.10.mga8

$ uname -a
Linux Mageia 5.10.41-desktop-1.mga8 #1 SMP Fri May 28 14:12:17 UTC 2021 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Virtualbox is working as well. Very happy about that.
One outstanding problem is booting into the latest kernel does not seem to work for some reason. The boot proceeds in large text (something to do with display)
and then hangs implementing some networking stuff. But the above works so all good.
Thanks

[benmc]

good to know there is positive progress .

which system do you use more, Mageia or OpenSuse?.

if Mageia, you would probably benefit from changing the bootloader to Mageia control, otherwise leave it with OpenSuse.