CentOS / Red Hat Linux Find Out Latest Available Updated Package or Kernel Version
Q. I know how to find out current running kernel version under CentOS Enterprise Linux 4.6 x86_64, but how do I find out latest available kernel version? How do I find out if it's the latest one? How to find the latest release version for package called xyz or kernel package?
A. You can simply use yum command to find out more about latest version available under your CentOS system. To list all packages with updates available in the yum repositories.
yum list updates syntax
Use the following syntax and you are allowed to use wild cards (the single quotes will keep your shell from expanding the globs):
yum list updates {package-name}
yum list updates 'package-name*'
yum list updates '*package-name*'
For example, find out if latest updated version of kernel or php package, enter:
# yum list updates 'php*'
OR
# yum list updates 'kernel*'
Sample output:
Loading "installonlyn" plugin
Loading "security" plugin
Setting up repositories
Reading repository metadata in from local files
Skipping security plugin, no data
Updated Packages
kernel.i686 2.6.18-53.1.21.el5 updates
You can list currently installed package version by typing any one of the following command:
# rpm -q kernel
OR
# yum list installed 'kernel*'
Or you can list multiple packages on separated by whitespace:
# yum list installed 'kernel*' 'php*'
Sample output:
Loading "installonlyn" plugin Loading "security" plugin Installed Packages kernel.i686 2.6.18-53.1.4.el5 installed kernel.i686 2.6.18-53.1.19.el5 installed kernel.i686 2.6.18-53.1.21.el5 installed kernel.i686 2.6.18-53.1.6.el5 installed kernel.i686 2.6.18-8.1.15.el5 installed kernel-devel.i686 2.6.18-8.1.15.el5 installed kernel-devel.i686 2.6.18-53.1.4.el5 installed kernel-devel.i686 2.6.18-53.1.6.el5 installed kernel-devel.i686 2.6.18-53.1.19.el5 installed kernel-devel.i686 2.6.18-53.1.21.el5 installed kernel-headers.i386 2.6.18-53.1.21.el5 installed
Finally, you can apply updated version using yum command itself:
# yum update kernel.i686
Sample output:
Loading "installonlyn" plugin Loading "security" plugin Setting up Update Process Setting up repositories Reading repository metadata in from local files Skipping security plugin, no data Resolving Dependencies Skipping security plugin, no data --> Populating transaction set with selected packages. Please wait. ---> Package kernel.i686 0:2.6.18-53.1.21.el5 set to be installed --> Running transaction check Dependencies Resolved ============================================================================= Package Arch Version Repository Size ============================================================================= Installing: kernel i686 2.6.18-53.1.21.el5 updates 13 M Transaction Summary ============================================================================= Install 1 Package(s) Update 0 Package(s) Remove 0 Package(s) Total download size: 13 M Is this ok [y/N]: y Downloading Packages: Running Transaction Test Finished Transaction Test Transaction Test Succeeded Running Transaction Installing: kernel ######################### [1/1] Installed: kernel.i686 0:2.6.18-53.1.21.el5 Complete!
Don't forget to reboot your system so that you can boot into latest kernel version:
# reboot
E-mail this to a friend
Printable version
Related Other Helpful FAQs:
- Linux List All Outdated Packages Which Could be Updated and Applied to System
- Red Hat / CentOS Linux Install Cluster Suite Software
- Apply package updates from the Red Hat Network (RHN) For Red Hat Linux Server
- up2date command to update Redhat enterprise Linux (RHEL) howto
- Find Out Vmware Server Version Under Linux Server
Discussion on This FAQ
Leave a Reply
We encourage your comments, and suggestions. But please stay on topic, be polite, and avoid spam. Thank you very much for stopping by our site!
Tags: enterprise linux, fedora yum command, find out kernel version, find updated version, globs, kernel package, linux yum command, wild cards, yum command, yum repositories
June 17th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
You can get more info about a package typing
rpm -qi package-name