[ubuntu-cloud] Ubuntu HWE kernels on AWS?

[Peter Wolanin]

Thanks Ben - that's a very helpful run-down.

Should we try to change that wiki page?

-Peter

On Tue, Jun 16, 2015 at 12:58 PM, Ben Howard <ben.howard at canonical.com>
wrote:

> The HWE kernels were originally targeted for hardware enablement. The
> reason for suggesting that they are not viable for cloud use, is in
> part, because of stability, support and virtual hardware was assumed to
> be fairly static. However, we are seeing that the HWE kernels are quite
> viable in cloud, that the assumption of static hypervisors was false,
> and that people need newer kernel features on older userlands (Docker,
> cgroups, file systems, etc).
>
> By default GCE, Azure, and VMware Air, use the HWE enablement kernels at
> the request of the Clouds. Incidentally, I am in the process of
> releasing HWE builds for Trusty in the upstream images [1]. I expect to
> have AWS EC2 image availability later this week.
>
> The biggest problem with HWE kernels is that they have a shorter life
> cycle (i.e. 14.04's hwe-{u,v,w} series will only live for 9 months). So
> if you elect to use an HWE kernel, be aware that you may have to switch
> off of it later to get bug fixes.
>
> For 12.04, linux-image-generic-lts-trusty is supported for the remaining
> life of 12.04. The generic kernel is -virtual with a larger set of
> modules; it is fine to install on virtual targets.
>
> For 14.04, linux-image-hwe-virtual-trusty will pull in the latest
> supported hwe-kernel (and auto-upgrade you).
>
> ~Ben
>
> [1] https://cloud-images.ubuntu.com/trusty
>
> On 06/16/2015 08:42 AM, Peter Wolanin wrote:
> >
> > Ubuntu offers package for 12.04 like linux-image-3.13.0-55-generic
> > 3.13.0-55.92~precise1 that upgrade the kernel version.
> >
> > However, this wiki page says these kernels should not be used for
> > Cloud deployments:
> > https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/LTSEnablementStack
> >
> > I also note that there is no -virtual version of the kernel upgrade
> > package.
> >
> > Is that note overly cautious, or are there real risks in trying to
> > switch to the upgraded kernel?  We are motivated by fixes for xfs
> > problems we are seeing when using the default 12.04 kernel on AWS.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > -Peter
> >
> > --
> > Peter M. Wolanin, Ph.D.      : Momentum Specialist,  Acquia. Inc.
> > peter.wolanin at acquia.com <mailto:peter.wolanin at acquia.com> :
> 609-235-6869
> >
> >
>
> --
>
>
> Ben Howard
> ben.howard at canonical.com
> Canonical
> GPG ID 0x5406A866
>
>
>
>
> --
> Ubuntu-cloud mailing list
> Ubuntu-cloud at lists.ubuntu.com
> Modify settings or unsubscribe at:
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-cloud
>
>


-- 
Peter M. Wolanin, Ph.D.      : Momentum Specialist,  Acquia. Inc.
peter.wolanin at acquia.com : 609-235-6869
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-cloud/attachments/20150616/4e42b924/attachment.html>