How To Upgrade a Kernel on BDA V4.2 and Higher/V4.1 (Doc ID 2033797.1)

Last updated on AUGUST 08, 2023

Applies to:

Big Data Appliance Integrated Software - Version 4.2.0 and later
Linux x86-64

Goal

Detail how to upgrade the Kernel on BDA V4.2 and higher and BDA V4.1. The only difference between the BDA V4.2 and higher versions and BDA V4.1 is that on BDA V4.2 and higher 'reset-grub-conf' is on the BDA. On BDA V4.1 download the attached BDA V4.2-4.4 'reset-grub-conf' to any staging directory on the BDA and execute it from there.

Note: This important information for UEK4 Kernels:

1. BDA now supports UEK4QU6 (for example: 4.1.12-112.*) on all BDA UEK4 versions. The recommendation for UEK4 kernel upgrades is to upgrade to the latest UEK4QU6 in public yum. To find the latest UEK4QU6 kernel for upgrade on the BDA follow: How to Find the Latest UEK4 Kernel in the Oracle Linux Public Yum Repository Recommended for Kernel Upgrade on the BDA (2469523.1).

2. For BDA V4.7.0-4.9.0 going to a UEK4 QU5 kernel is NOT supported. For BDA V4.10.0 and V4.11.0 UEK4 QU5 (4.1.12-103*) is supported. But the recommendation is to upgrade to UEK4QU6 on UEK4. To check what that version currently is follow: How to Find the Latest UEK4 Kernel in the Oracle Linux Public Yum Repository Recommended for Kernel Upgrade on the BDA (2469523.1).

3. There is a known issue on OL6 with UEK4 kernels higher than UEK 4.1.12-70 and lower than UEK 4.1.12-94.3.9 such that a network restart ("service network restart") causes a crash and a node reboot. Do not upgrade to a UEK4 kernel lower than UEK 4.1.12-94.3.9 - see also DocID 2296538.1 Recommended Kernel and Firmware Versions After Upgrade to BDA V4.7, BDA V4.8, BDA V4.9.

5. X7 and X8 servers will behave the same with respect to kernel upgrades - both are EFI based.

Also note:

1. Many steps in this MOS note are provided using dcli to implement them on all cluster nodes. The steps can be run individually on one server at a time without dcli as well.

2. The example in this note uses upgrade to kernel-uek-*4.1.12-112*. Replace the version, e.g. 4.1.12-112, as appropriate with the latest kernel being upgraded to.