CentOS/RHEL: installing an ELRepo kernel

CentOS and RHEL favour stable, compatible versions over adding new features. At the time of these notes, users needing a recent kernel for hardware support, at least a 5.x version, could find a distribution’s 4.x kernel limiting. The original notes turn to the external ELRepo kernel packages for this purpose.

Enable the kernel repository

First import the GPG key:

rpm --import https://www.elrepo.org/RPM-GPG-KEY-elrepo.org

Add the repository:

rpm -Uvh https://www.elrepo.org/elrepo-release-8.el8.elrepo.noarch.rpm

Refresh the package metadata:

yum update

Install a mainline kernel

The mainline package provides a recent kernel and its patches:

yum --enablerepo=elrepo-kernel install kernel-ml -y

If you also need its header files:

yum --enablerepo=elrepo-kernel install kernel-ml kernel-ml-devel -y

Install an LTS kernel

An LTS kernel receives long-term patches and security fixes from the kernel community:

yum --enablerepo=elrepo-kernel install kernel-lt -y

To install its header files:

yum --enablerepo=elrepo-kernel install kernel-lt kernel-lt-devel -y