RHEL/CentOS: yum Update All Packages Except the Linux Kernel

yum syntax to update all except Kernel

The syntax is:

yum --exclude=packgeName\* update
yum --exclude=packgeName1\* --exclude=packgeName2\* update
yum -x 'packageName*' update
yum -x 'packageName1*' -x 'packageName2*' update

Examples

To prevent yum command from updating the Kernel type:

yum -y --exclude=kernel\* update

OR

yum -y -x 'kernel*' update

How do I prevent yum from Updating the Kernel permanently?

Edit /etc/yum.conf file, enter:
# vi /etc/yum.conf
Append/modify exclude directive line under [main] section, enter:

exclude=kernel*

Save and close the file. Now, you can just run the following without passing the -x or –exclude option to yum command:
# yum -y update

See also

• Force yum update Command To Exclude Certain Packages
• See Linux yum command examples for more info
• Man pages: yum.conf(5)