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#1 2021-06-19 15:34:41

Altoid
Member
Registered: 2017-05-07
Posts: 1,415  

[SOLVED] Cleaning up installation

Hello:

After a good while of using a newer kernel in Beowulf and with no evident issues, I've decided to clean up old stuff.

[root@devuan groucho]# uname -a
Linux devuan 5.10.0-0.bpo.3-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 5.10.13-1~bpo10+1 (2021-02-11) x86_64 GNU/Linux
[root@devuan groucho]# 

So I first had a look at what was there:

groucho@devuan:~$ apt list | grep linux-headers | grep installed

linux-headers-4.19.0-17-amd64/stable,now 4.19.194-1 amd64 [installed,automatic]
linux-headers-4.19.0-17-common/stable,stable,now 4.19.194-1 all [installed,automatic]
linux-headers-5.10.0-0.bpo.3-amd64/stable-backports,now 5.10.13-1~bpo10+1 amd64 [installed]
linux-headers-5.10.0-0.bpo.3-common/stable-backports,stable-backports,now 5.10.13-1~bpo10+1 all [installed,automatic]
linux-headers-amd64/stable,now 4.19+105+deb10u12 amd64 [installed]
groucho@devuan:~$ 

Seeing that 4.19.0-17 was the target for removal, I opened a terminal:

[root@devuan groucho]# apt purge linux-headers-4.19.0-17-amd64
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  linux-headers-4.19.0-17-common linux-kbuild-4.19
Use 'apt autoremove' to remove them.
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  linux-headers-4.19.0-17-amd64* linux-headers-amd64*
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 2 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
After this operation, 5268 kB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] n
Abort.
[root@devuan groucho]#

Is this right?
ie: linux-headers-amd64  -> Linux devuan 5.10.0-0.bpo.3-amd64 does not need it?

Thanks in advance.

A.

Last edited by Altoid (2021-06-19 19:08:48)

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#2 2021-06-19 16:04:30

chris2be8
Member
Registered: 2018-08-11
Posts: 264  

Re: [SOLVED] Cleaning up installation

I'd try apt-get --simulate autoremove first and see what it said it would remove (or apt --simulate autoremove). Then double-check it wasn't saying it would remove anything current.

Chris

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#3 2021-06-19 16:43:36

Head_on_a_Stick
Member
From: London
Registered: 2019-03-24
Posts: 3,125  
Website

Re: [SOLVED] Cleaning up installation

Altoid wrote:

Is this right?
ie: linux-headers-amd64  -> Linux devuan 5.10.0-0.bpo.3-amd64 does no need it?

Yes, that's right. The kernel does not have the headers listed as a dependency. The headers are only needed for building custom kernel modules so most users don't need them.


Brianna Ghey — Rest In Power

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#4 2021-06-19 19:08:06

Altoid
Member
Registered: 2017-05-07
Posts: 1,415  

Re: [SOLVED] Cleaning up installation

Hello:

chris2be8 wrote:

I'd try apt-get --simulate autoremove ...

That didn't show anything

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:

Yes ...
... kernel does not have the headers listed as a dependency.
... only needed for building custom kernel modules so most users don't need them.

Good to know.
Thanks for the heads up.  8^)

I can now continue with the housekeeping.

Best,

A.

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#5 2021-06-19 19:16:10

Marjorie
Member
From: Teignmouth, UK
Registered: 2019-06-09
Posts: 219  

Re: [SOLVED] Cleaning up installation

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:
Altoid wrote:

Is this right?
ie: linux-headers-amd64  -> Linux devuan 5.10.0-0.bpo.3-amd64 does no need it?

Yes, that's right. The kernel does not have the headers listed as a dependency. The headers are only needed for building custom kernel modules so most users don't need them.

I think you do still need the current kernel headers to recompile the kernel module for NVidia if you are using NVidia's own driver.

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#6 2021-06-19 20:49:20

Head_on_a_Stick
Member
From: London
Registered: 2019-03-24
Posts: 3,125  
Website

Re: [SOLVED] Cleaning up installation

NVIDIA's kernel module would be considered "custom" even if compiled from the Debian package. The kernel ring buffer will have a message about the module tainting the kernel.


Brianna Ghey — Rest In Power

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#7 2021-06-20 00:43:08

Altoid
Member
Registered: 2017-05-07
Posts: 1,415  

Re: [SOLVED] Cleaning up installation

Hello:

Marjorie wrote:

... still need the current kernel headers to recompile the kernel module for NVidia if you are using NVidia's own driver.

Now that you mention it, my memory's been reactivated.  8^/

I recall that having that package installed was neecessary.
HevyDevy figured out how to install the proprietary drivers some time ago when I was having some problems (persistance package IIRC) and part of the sequence was installing the headers if they were not there.

I am on Beowulf but with a backported kernel so I don't know what applies.
In any case, if I ever have to install the Nvidia stuff again, I'll probably find out.

Thanks for the heads up.

Best,

A.

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