Do I need to reboot if using KernelCare

Issue

Do I need to reboot if using KernelCare?

And how often should I reboot the server?

Environment

• KernelCare

Solution

KernelCare is a cutting-edge technology designed to keep the Linux kernel secure at all times. It automatically applies updates without requiring server reboots, thus preventing downtime and avoiding inconvenient maintenance windows. It checks for updates every four hours and applies them seamlessly, ensuring there is no impact on performance.

This allows servers to run continuously without the traditional need for frequent reboots to apply kernel updates.

While KernelCare greatly minimizes the need for reboots, it is still advisable to reboot periodically to apply other system updates and maintain optimal performance. The frequency of these reboots depends on the specific requirements of your server and the software running on it. It is important to balance the benefits of high uptime with the necessity of keeping your system updated and secure.

To ensure your system is safe, please run the following commands:

# kcarectl --update 
# kcarectl --uname

If no errors are reported, you should be running the latest available kernel. The last command will print the effective kernel version.

Note: KernelCare does not cover kernel feature updates and cannot replace the need for installing the latest kernel to address non-security-related bugs.

For more information:

https://docs.tuxcare.com/live-patching-services/#kernelcare