How to install the latest kernel version on RHEL 8/9/10?

Environment

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

Issue

• How to install the latest kernel version on RHEL 8/9/10?
• How do I install the most recent kernel version on RHEL 8/9/10?
• How to update to the newest available kernel on RHEL 8/9/10?
• How to install a specific kernel version on RHEL 8/9/10?

Resolution

• To install the latest available kernel on RHEL 8, 9 or 10.

# dnf install kernel

• To install a specific kernel version on RHEL 8, 9 or 10.

# dnf install kernel-<version>

• The kernel package is a meta-package that refers to multiples packages:
  • RHEL 8: kernel, kernel-core, kernel-modules
  • RHEL 9/10: kernel, kernel-core, kernel-modules, kernel-modules-core
• Multiple kernel versions can coexist on a system, but only one kernel version is active per boot session.
• Kernel related packages only work with the kernel with the same version.

Notes:

• For offline systems:
  • How to install a kernel on an offline system?
• About multiple kernel installations:
  • Why are there multiple versions of kernel on system

Diagnostic Steps

• For offline systems: How to install a kernel on an offline system?
• About multiple kernel installations: Why are there multiple versions of kernel on system

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