Transitional kernel packages

[Tom H]

On Tue, Aug 16, 2016 at 3:13 AM, Ralf Mardorf <silver.bullet at zoho.com> wrote:
>
> while I understand what a transitional package usually is good for, I
> don't understand what those linux-*-lts-releasename packages are good
> for:
>
> Could somebody please explain the reason for this ongoing "transition"?

linux-image-generic is the package that pulls in the latest kernel, at
the moment linux-image-4.4.0-34-generic.

linux-image-generic-lts-<codename> is a package that pulls in the
latest <codename> kernel for your current LTS installation.

AIUI, in 16.04, the linux-image-generic-lts-<codename> are "dummy
transitional" packages because 16.04 has the latest kernel version and
they simply pull in linux-image-generic. I assume that they're needed
for upgrades from 14.04 (instead of uninstalling those packages).

linux-image-generic-lts-yaketty in 16.04 will pull in a kernel version > 4.4.