How to upgrade Oracle VM 3.2.x to the latest Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK) (Doc ID 1611747.1)

Last updated on MARCH 16, 2021

Applies to:

Oracle VM - Version 3.2.1 to 3.2.8 [Release OVM32]
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure - Version N/A and later
Linux x86-64
Linux x86

Goal

Oracle VM Server Domain-0 Kernel Updates

In some cases, Oracle VM customers may require an updated kernel for their Oracle VM Server Domain-0 (Administration Domain). This may be to receive updated hardware support, improved performance, or to get additional security patches. Installing the latest Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel Release 2 (UEK2) on your Oracle VM Server Domain-0 is fully supported by Oracle.

Current list of fixed bugs in UEK2-latest kernel:
    BUG 17556598 - UPDATE HBA DRIVER IN ORACLE VM SERVER 3.2.6
    BUG 17908583 - BACKPORT ORABUG-17630145 TO ORACLE VM: XEN_SPIN_LOCK_FLAGS
    BUG 17892765 - X6270 M3 INSTALLED OVM 3.2.6 SEVER BOOTUP SLOWLY Sev 1 24X7 SR
    BUG 17701540 - SUPPRESS EXCESSIVELY CHATTY HPSA ERRORS
    BUG 17876407 - OVM 3.2.6 BNX2X 10GBE:SIOCSIFMTU: CANNOT ALLOCATE MEMORY WHEN

Bugs fixed in later releases which have been backported to UEK2 2.6.39-300:
    BUG 14546228 - BLKBACK PROCESS CPU TIME PER IO INCREASE
    BUG 16876184 - BONDING FAILOVER ON IXGBE 10G INTERFACE WITH JUMBO FRAMES!
    Bug 17431385 - TALEO DOM0 CHSMVMA00202 HANG AFTER OCFS2 RESIZE, STALE LOCK ON!
    Bug 14162430 - KERNEL BUG AT KERNEL/EXIT.C:1023! WITH KERNEL 2.6.32.21-45.6XEN !
    Bug 16998918 - BACKPORT [2FC721E7] SCHED: FIX ANCIENT RACE IN DO_EXIT()!

Additional changes in UEK2 update:
1. Integrated OFED stack (removes external package dependencies)
2. Additional updated device drivers

Support for Third Party Kernel Modules

Any third party kernel modules in use on Domain-0 with Oracle VM 3.2.x will require recompile for support with the kernel provided here. This is due to the change in kernel ABI between the GA version and the ARU provided version. This is a one-time-only change, and future updates to the Domain-0 kernel will continue to maintain stable kernel ABI for third party modules.

For more information on Oracle's Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel, refer to Doc ID: 1210995.1 - Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel: Frequently Asked Questions

Solution

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