This article provides a guide to install KernelCare kernel update patch management software on Linux server. 

What is KernelCare?

KernelCare is a live kernel patching service that provides security patches and bugfixes for a range of popular Linux kernels that can be installed without rebooting the system.

How to Install KernelCare

To install KernelCare on Linux server, first ensure the server environment is compatible.

KernelCare Compatibility

KernelCare is compatible with 64-bit versions of CloudLinuxOS/CentOS/RHEL 6,7 and 8, Oracle Linux 6 and 7, Amazon Linux 1 and 2, Virtuozzo/PCS/OpenVZ 2.6.32, Debian 8,9 and 10, Proxmox VE 5 and 6, Virt-SIG/Xen4CentOS 6 and 7, Ubuntu 14.04, 15.04 and 16.04 kernels. The list of compatible kernels can be found on the following link: https://patches.kernelcare.com/ .

Installation Guide

To install KernelCare run:

curl -s -L https://kernelcare.com/installer | bash

or:

wget -qq -O - https://kernelcare.com/installer | bash

If you are using IP-based license, nothing else is required to be done.

If you are using key-based license, run:

/usr/bin/kcarectl --register KEY

KEY is the registration key code string provided when you sign up for purchase or trial of the product.

If you are experiencing Key limit reached error after the end of the trial period you should first unregister the server by running:

kcarectl --unregister

To check if patches applied run:

/usr/bin/kcarectl --info

The software will automatically check for new patches every 4 hours.

If you would like to run update manually:

/usr/bin/kcarectl --update

To check current kernel compatibility with KernelCare, use the following script by running:

curl -s -L https://kernelcare.com/checker | python

or:

wget -qq -O - https://kernelcare.com/checker | python

Uninstall KernelCare

In order to uninstall KernelCare from Linux Server, follow the following steps:

Login to SSH as root user, and run the corresponding commands (based on distro):

For CloudLinux, CentOS, RHEL, Virtuozzo, OpenVZ:

yum remove kernelcare

For Ubuntu, Debian, Proxmox VE:

apt-get remove kernelcare
dpkg --remove kernelcare