What Is The Linux Kernel And How To Check The Version?

 We may know that there are so many Linux distributions out there, but they all have one thing in common which is the Linux Kernel. Many Linux users still don't know what the Linux Kernel is and how to check it. So let's take a look at your Linux Kernel version and why it's needed.

What is a Kernel?

Every operating system uses a kernel. Without the kernel, you can't have a really working computer. You may see and interact with a lot of different software, but it's the kernel underneath that does most of the grunt work. The kernel serves as a bridge between your computer's hardware and the software you want to run. This allows your device to talk to other hardware via drivers that are included in the kernel (or installed later in the form of kernel modules).

With the kernel in place, when an application wants to do something (say change the speaker volume setting), the application can send that request to the kernel, and the kernel can use any available speaker driver to actually change the volume. The kernel is also involved in resource management.

Because it has to ensure that there is enough memory available to run the application and to place the application in the right location in memory. The kernel tries to optimize processor usage so that it can complete tasks as quickly as possible. Failures can lead to deadlocks, where the entire system stops because one application needs a resource that another uses.

What is the Linux Kernel?

It's actually not technically correct to think of Linux as a complete operating system. Linux actually refers specifically to the kernel, which is named after founder Linus Torvalds. Everything you see on screen is from other projects and developers. Torvalds created the Linux kernel in 1991. Initially the project was called Freax (a combination of “free,” “freak,” and “UNIX”). But a co-worker preferred the name Linux. Eventually Torvalds released the first version of Linux in 1992 under the copyleft GNU license, which was to be a big part of the project's success.

Most of the Linux desktop experience comes from the GNU Project, an older initiative that created a nearly complete desktop operating system. All it needs is the kernel, and Linux fulfills that need. This is why some people refer to the OS as GNU/Linux. Other free and open source desktops, such as FreeBSD, look and feel like Linux in that they run most of the same GNU software.

Because the Linux kernel is available under the GNU license, there is little interest in continuing to develop a separate kernel as part of the GNU Project. And rather than building other competing kernels, such as those found in Windows and macOS, many companies are choosing to use and contribute to the Linux kernel instead. The Linux kernel has grown into a huge project containing millions of lines of code. Thousands of people, and more than a thousand companies, have contributed to the development of the kernel. It is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software in the world.

What is the Linux Kernel Used For?

Although Linux remains a relatively good desktop operating system. Thanks to Android, the Linux kernel now powers most of the smartphones in the world. It comes across all kinds of mobile devices, including wearables and cameras. Linux powers the 500 most powerful supercomputers and much of the internet's infrastructure. When you think of the cloud, you think primarily of interconnected Linux-powered servers.

Linux started as a hacking project, and while the kernel has come close to unimaginable corporate adoption, it still empowers the hardware for tamers. Tiny Raspberry Pi for Rp. These 500,000 are Linux powered computers the size of a credit card, completely open for people to modify and use the project as they see fit and not forgetting competitors like Pine64 have helped drastically reduce the price of computing.

How to Check Linux Kernel Version

The kernel is still under active development, so new versions of Linux are coming out all the time. The easiest way to see which release is on your machine, which will work on all versions of Linux, is to use the uname command. This is a command line tool that provides system information. You can find the Linux kernel version you are using by opening a terminal window and typing the following:

uname -r

Uname -r Kali Linux

Currently admin is running Linux kernel version 5.3.0-kali-amd64. Let's break down what this means.

* 5 refers to the kernel version.

*3 refers to the current major revision.

* 0 refers to the current minor revision.

*times refers to Linux OS distros.

*amd64 refers to the operating system bit.

If we conclude the explanation above, it means that the admin is currently running the Kali Linux 5 64-Bit version

Should Update Linux Kernel

For the most part, the Linux kernel operates silently in the background. You didn't know it was there, and you have little reason to think about it. For the most part, the best way to update your Linux kernel version is to upgrade to the latest version of your preferred Linux operating system. New versions of Ubuntu and Fedora, for example, come out approximately every six months and carry newer versions of the Linux kernel.

Even if most of the kernel is not visible, there are several reasons to upgrade to a newer Linux kernel. Unlike on Windows, Linux hardware drivers are bundled with the Linux kernel. So, if you have a relatively new PC or laptop with speakers, Wi-Fi, or a touchpad that your version of Linux hasn't detected yet, you should probably wait for a newer version. If a new Kernel is released, then alan comes with stability and speed improvements, so your computer can run more smoothly on one version than another.

Conclusion

So what is the Linux kernel? Is a major component of the Linux operating system and is the core interface between computer hardware and processes. This is what can lead to communicate between the two, and can manage resources as efficiently as possible.

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Resa Risyan

Just an ordinary person who wants to share a little knowledge, hopefully the knowledge I provide can be useful for all of us. Keep in mind! Useful knowledge is an investment in the afterlife.