Kernel switch "on the fly"

robak · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 10:22 am Post subject: Kernel switch "on the fly"

Hi !

i just got the idea to change the kernel without rebooting the system. does anybody know if it's possible?
i googled around a little bit but i couldn't find any solution.
maybe someone could help me out with a little tutorial or a link?

thanks a lot in advance

greetings
nurbs

Errtu · Apprentice Joined: 12 Nov 2002 Posts: 155 Location: Brazil

As far as i know, this is not possible. Compare it with changing the engine of a car without stopping it. It might be a great idea for Mythbusters though

richard77 · Apprentice Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 281

What you are looking for is kexec
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robak · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 11:03 am Post subject:

@Errtu: maybe we should send an e-mail to mythbusters with that idea

@richard77: thanks for that! do you have experience with kexec?

Errtu · Apprentice Joined: 12 Nov 2002 Posts: 155 Location: Brazil

I apologize. I had no idea this could be done :oops:

Very handy indeed.

mikegpitt · Advocate Joined: 22 May 2004 Posts: 3224

I didn't know this was possible either. I did know that there is some magic keystroke involving the SysRq key that allows you to shut down almost all processes on the system, where you can then change the kernel and start up the processes again. Kind of like rebooting, but not quite.

bollucks · l33t Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Posts: 606

No, it's not possible. Kexec just avoids the bios reset part. It really is a soft reboot.