Distro Monday 42: The Answer to Life the Universe, and Everything... MXLinux, and Kernel Stuff

MX Linux 21.3
How to Stay on Top of Kernel Updates
Freedom Consultation
Ubuntu Kernel Updates
PSA: Linux 6.0 Kernel EOL

#distromonday #TechFreedom #technews #Linuxnews #Linux #kernel #mxlinux

DM 42-1: What’s New in MX Linux 21.3?

Remember MX Linux? That’s ok if you don’t, here’s a reminder: MX Linux is a debian distro that is focused on being a stable and lightweight base for your Linux experience. So, what’s new?

· Linux 6.0 for new installs, but for now, it might be better to stick with the 5.10 series, as 6.0 is EOL
· Xfce 4.18
· Latest Patches and Updates from Debian 11.6
· A new deb-installer to replace GDebi
· Menulibre menu editor

Sounds like a solid effort from the MXLinux team, but as I said, be careful with any distro that is just now updating to the 6.0 kernel (given, that is for the bleeding edge hardware support, for those users who want to run as lightly as possible, even with brand new hardware.

https://9to5linux.com/mx-linux-21-3-released-with-xfce-4-18-and-linux-kernel-6-0

#distromonday #TechFreedom #Linux #Debian #MXLinux

DM 42.2: How to Keep on Top of Kernel Updates

Well, as I reported last week, the 4.19 LTS is now end of life, with it goes the stable kernel 6.0.19, replaced by 5.15.85 LTS and 6.1.5 stable kernels. What does this mean? Long-Term Service, or LTS kernels are older kernels which are designed to be be ultra stable. These have been tested and tried and will be supported for at least 5 years after their initial series release, so the 5.15 LTS kernel will continue to be patched and updated for another 4 years or so. These kernels are not the flashiest releases, but they make the whole Linux world run on the server and enterprise level. If you are doing IT for a company, large or small, you don’t want to be working with the latest and greatest, as there will be bugs that need squishing and fixes that need to be made before these new pieces of tech are stable and really production ready. You don’t want to be wrestling with teething issues along with new adopting enthusiasts if your company needs to be able to just get stuff done.

Stable kernels are similar, but closer to bleeding edge, for those new adopting, adventuresome types who just like to live dangerously, but not at the absolute bleeding edge of release clients and the like. These stable kernels are perfect for regular use, as they have been tested and tried, but they only get supported for a month or so, then upgraded to the next round.

For LTS kernels, rock stability is the name of the game. They will be patched for vulnerabilities and other issues, but other than that, they are as-is.

For stable kernels, you get much more current hardware support, as well as other performance tweaks which will make your experience better vs LTS, but not as much stability, as the kernel is only meant to be “stable” for a month or two at a time.

In Arch, you get the latest kernels as options before anyone else does, and that can be part of why it has the reputation of being so finicky. It is easy to update to new kernels in Arch, as they roll with the rest of the updates offered, as soon as it is out of testing. In Debian based distros, you’ll have to wait longer for your developers to filter it through from upstream, unless you want to compile the kernel for yourself. We’ll talk a bit more about this in the next story, after the discussion about the Freedom Consultation, which is coming next.

https://www.makeuseof.com/linux-kernel-releases-crucial-updates/
#distromonday #TechFreedom #Linux #kernels #techtips

Freedom Consultation

What is it? It is a free video call where I will give you the basics in terms of tools to set you free. I will also demonstrate a handful of different Linux distributions, some free and open source software (FOSS) that may be a good fit to replace your current proprietary tools, such as MS Office, Adobe Suite, more privacy-conscious browsers, and whatever else you need to help you feel better about the switch. I believe that anyone can set themselves free, and should want to, particularly when we consider just how much data and control these Big Tech and Big Gov types have over us through their closed ecosystems. Do you want to be free? Are you tired of having everything you do tracked and traced? Are you creeped out by AI and algorithms? Get free after a Freedom Consultation.

https://techfreedom.pro/freedom-consultaion

#distromonday #TechFreedom #freedomconsultation #free #degoogle #Linux

DM 42.3: New Ubuntu Kernel Updates

As promised, more conversation about the kernel... What is in this update anyway? Why should you apply these patches as soon as possible? Well, let me tell you why:

· For all affected versions (14.04 and 16.04 ESM, and 18.04-22.04 LTS, as well as 22.10)
o Two Bluetooth security vulnerabilities, one which dealt with multiple use-after-free vulnerabilities which could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on your device, and the other, which was an integer overflow vulnerability. More or less, the attacker would have to be in physical proximity to launch an attack like this to either be able to run arbitrary (that you did not intend) code or even cause your system to crash.
o Also patched was a vulnerability which could allow an attacker in a VM to cause a network crash for the host machine.
· Misc fixes
o 22.10 + 5.19 and 22.04 & 20.04 LTS running 5.15 LTS
§ Vulnerability patched which could lead to a local attacker being able to cause a crash or execute arbitrary code, through a stack buffer overflow.
o 18.04 & 20.04 running the 5.4 LTS kernel, as well as the 14.04 and 16.04 ESM
§ Patched vulnerability which could allow a remote attacker to use a buffer overflow to execute arbitrary code or cause a system crash
How do you apply these fixes? Either run the software updater utility or type sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade and reboot.

https://9to5linux.com/new-ubuntu-kernel-security-updates-fix-5-vulnerabilities-patch-now

#distromonday #TechFreedom #Ubuntu #Linux #kernel #patches #updates

Distro Monday PSA:

Linux 6.0 kernel now end-of-life after a typical 3 month run. Update to the 6.1 LTS series as soon as you can to make sure that you continue getting updates and whatnot.