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A regular occurrence in updating Ubuntu is kernel updates, which require a restart. There are applications which negate the need for a restart after a kernel update e.g. ksplice.

Why doesn't Ubuntu use tools similar to ksplice? Are there security, memory, etc. concerns to not restarting immediately/ever? Or, can these issues be overcome (i.e. are they just bugs)?

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    For now ksplice is free to download (but not open-source) for Ubuntu Desktop, shame it's not "free" software (only free in cost).
    – hayd
    Jul 17, 2012 at 15:47
  • @EliahKagan Yes, but the accepted answer is here IMO better. It should be migrated if/as this is closed. Thanks!
    – hayd
    Apr 23, 2015 at 21:42
  • htorque's answer here is valuable, so we should merge answers after closing, yes. But in the quoted interview, Peter Graner didn't say anything about why ksplice is not included. In contrast, Kees Cook's answer there does explain why (and offers additional technical and practical insight). Kees Cook serves on the Ubuntu Technical Board, so I think that answer, too, should be considered more than mere speculation. Kees Cook's answer is actually why I voted to dupe this to that, and not the other way around. Apr 23, 2015 at 22:04

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I found this IRC log from Feb. containing a question and answer session with Peter Graner (pgraner), the Kernel Engineering Manager:

<Taek> QUESTION: Is there plans or even talk about having a system update without having to restart or install third party software such as ksplice.

<pgraner> Taek, the kernel will support kplice however we have no plans to do such a thing, there is already a commercial venture that does that

<sebsebseb> QUESTION: Do you think that Ubuntu Desktop might use Ksplice in the future?

<pgraner> sebsebseb, No as stated in the last question

Not really a satisfying answer to the why, but the best I could find.

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  • If you view this answer in conjuntion with the answer from Mike. It sounds like they wont use ksplice because there is a commercial venture which holds a patent, which is violated by ksplice
    – trampster
    Aug 1, 2013 at 22:27
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It may be patent encumbered:

http://www.google.com/patents?id=cVyWAAAAEBAJ&dq=hotpatching

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