SOLVED Possible Kernel problems with ubuntu 18.04 and latest kernel

[DeepThought]

I recently decided to upgrade my test server from 16.04 to 18.04 and found though the iso passed md5sum check and everything seemed to install ok I couldn't reboot or shutdown cleanly using the gui or cli commands.
This has also happened while testing LL 4.0 beta which uses the ubuntu 18.04 as it's base.

After the poweroff/reboot or shutdown -h / shutdown -r commands I observed the text on screen and it seemed to stop/unload/unmount ok until the final line ...Starting shutdown or Starting reboot ....... and then the pc would freeze/hang and no matter how long I waited I've had to manually hold the power button in to shut the pc down.

After exhaustive internet searches, with a few hits blaming system suspend, nvidia cards, wifi managers and even one post suggesting I use SysReq REISUB, I couldn't find a solution.

Although the iso passed the md5sum test I began wondering if there was a problem with it so I reinstalled 16.04 which I knew worked ok.

Now to why I think it's a kernel problem.

After install I fully updated 16.04. I then decided to use the do-release-upgrade command to download and upgrade the system which seemed to work great, except with the 4.15 default kernel the same behaviour happened. System seemed to hang at the final stage of ....Starting Reboot/Starting Shutdown.

But doing it this way the old 4.5.4 kernel was still available, so I changed to this kernel and everything seemed to work properly, rebooting and shutting down as it should.

I might just be unlucky with my hardware but this problem happened on both a Dell Inspiron 1501 laptop and an NUC5CPYH mini desktop and I bring this up since if I'm correct most people testing LL 4.0 have done so within virtualbox or vmware and might not be aware of this problem until they try an install on actual hdd.

Using UKUU (Ubuntu Kernel Update Utility) and a trial and error method I am at the moment trying to find the newest kernel that will work, but no success as yet apart from 4.5.4

I am comfortable using the terminal so if anyone needs more info just tell me the commands and info you want.

[ptyerman]

There is a few reported problems with the new 18.04 I've noticed over the last couple weeks. Unfortunately anything to do with the kernel is down to the kernel devs to sort out, the Linux Lite team or any other distro devs can't do anything about it.
That aside, it's always best to leave any new release to mature for a few month before trying it, if you're using it for any type of production system. More often than not, bugs like this will show themselves and take a while to iron out!

[DeepThought]

[member=5531]ptyerman[/member] I agree that this is a problem for the kernel devs to sort out and would normally wait a few months before attempting such an upgrade but my concern is the LL 4.0 is to be released in June, tomorrow, and from what I have seen on the forums, most testing has been done in VM's which might not show this behaviour.

Such behaviour might be a bit disconcerting for new window users or less experienced linux users.

Then again it could just be me lol but thank you for your comments, appreciated

[NN]

Now to why I think it's a kernel problem.

Yes, that's it, it's really only a kernel problem. I noticed that when I tested some different Linux releases, e. g. Xubuntu 18.04 and Mint XFCE 18.04 - they had the same bugs when adding start-up icons to the system panel - the user has to do it several times in order the right panel icon is set. Is it just a coincidence in different distros? No, I don't think so, it's just the same 'infection' in the common kernel they use.

After install I fully updated 16.04. I then decided to use the do-release-upgrade command to download and upgrade the system which seemed to work great, except with the 4.15 default kernel the same behaviour happened. System seemed to hang at the final stage of ....Starting Reboot/Starting Shutdown.

The user may block updating some apps in Synaptic and so they will never be updated. Is it possible to do the same for the new buggy kernels, I wonder? It would be great! As I don't want new kernels at all - the older kernel versions are even better and faster for my old netbook.

But doing it this way the old 4.5.4 kernel was still available, so I changed to this kernel and everything seemed to work properly, rebooting and shutting down as it should.

How I understand you!

I am comfortable using the terminal so if anyone needs more info just tell me the commands and info you want.

I want the commands! Please! 

[DeepThought]

[member=7594]NN[/member]  Hi, using apt-mark hold "package-name" it is possible to retain said package version and prevent upgrades.

So as kernel version 4.5.4 works I could apt-mark hold kernel-4.5.4 to prevent further upgrades

As I've said I am using ukuu to try and find the newest kernel that will work properly

[NN]

from what I have seen on the forums, most testing has been done in VM's which might not show this behaviour

You are quite right, that's why I never test new distros in VMs, I have a special partition on my HDD to fulfil the task and to see the distro at full and 'as large as life'. The new buggy kernel in LL 4.0 beta didn't let me even to start up the machine - all I saw was a black screen (I wrote about it somewhere on the forum already).

Despite the fact that I'm really looking forward to testing the new stable LL release, I'm still scared that the distro will not launch LL at all like it was in the beta version. Only some hours are left to check it out.  8)

[Valtam]

It's out now for those who want an early download but please, NO POSTS on it in any thread or I will delete them. Wait for the official announcement in a few hours, then post your replies in the announcement thread. SourceForge is your friend, wink wink.

Sent from my Mi Max using Tapatalk

[TMG1961]

I want an early download, but guess i have to wait another day. Nowhere a download to be found.

[NN]

[member=7594]NN[/member]  Hi, using apt-mark hold "package-name" it is possible to retain said package version and prevent upgrades.

So as kernel version 4.5.4 works I could apt-mark hold kernel-4.5.4 to prevent further upgrades

As I've said I am using ukuu to try and find the newest kernel that will work properly

Thank you for your quick reply.

Alas, the fact is that I have '4.13.0-43-generic' (see below) already.

Code:

nn-dot-s:~$ uname -a
Linux nn-dot-s 4.13.0-43-generic #48~16.04.1-Ubuntu SMP Thu May 17 12:56:46 UTC 2018 x86_64 GNU/Linux
nn-dot-s:~$

How can I switch to some earlier kernel (as earlier kernels are much faster) without affecting the whole system? Won't the procedure damage it? Though I am not afraid of experimenting, but I don't want to reinstall my customized distro and all my favourite apps in order not to waste my time. Could you, please, explain it to me easily and clearly having in mind that I am no geek at all. Thanks in advance.

[DeepThought]

[member=7594]NN[/member]  Hi atm I'm using ukuu to install / remove kernels. Instructions for install from ppa can be found at:

  https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2017/02/ukuu...nel-ubuntu

  Once installed can be found in system menu. Once started the software is quite straight forward to install / remove any kernel (except the one running obviously )

I would suggest that you enter the softwares settings and tick the box for grub-timeout and increase this to say 10 secs. Thus when grub appears at reboot you can click on advanced and choose which kernel to boot with.

The process won't damage your system in anyway and you can always return to your original kernel to boot from and remove the others