How do I install an old kernel?

Question

I am running an instance of Ubuntu 15.10. I need to install the latest kernel used by Ubuntu 14.10, which I think is 3.16.0-28-generic. Entering sudo apt-get install linux-image-3.16.0-28-generic returns an error message stating that it's not available and may have been obsoleted or whatever. I think if I add something to sources.list it will be able to get it. But what do I add to it?

And before anyone goes on about the troubles this may produce, it doesn't matter to me.

Answer 1

In Ubuntu, use browser to navigate to > http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/ Scroll to the bottom of the list; choose your kernel. Download the following files (xxxxxx will be replaced with numbers indicating the kernel version. Assuming you have a 64bit OS):

linux-headers-xxxxxx-generic-xxxxxx_amd64.deb

linux-headers-xxxxxx_all.deb

linux-image-xxxxxx-generic-xxxxxx_amd64.deb

Move all these files to a folder. cd into it. Install all these packages by running

sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Choose new kernel from grub menu.

Update: Since its an ubuntu instance you can manually get the links and and use wget to download the packages

Answer 2

If you know the exact version you want, e.g. 5.4.0-26-generic, just run

sudo apt install linux-image-5.4.0-26-generic

The dependencies will be installed automatically. Then in the next boot, select it in the grub menu.

Answer 3

If you want the official Ubuntu stock kernel (not a mainline kernel) from an unsupported version, see below.

For differences between Mainline and Stock kernels see https://askubuntu.com/a/91374/555474

I had to install an even older kernel (2.6.32.21-generic) for stock modules to work with a custom kernel. No hardware was working, so I had to download manually.

Here is how to obtain the discontinued kernels manually from http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/

Essentially you will need the kernel's headers for your processor, common (all) headers, and the kernel image for your processor.

1. In the steps below, replace x.x.xx-xx with your kernel version and amd64 with your processor type. Note this is for the generic kernel and not using extra features such as PAE.

2. Go to http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/l/linux/ (I believe this lists most if not all the old kernel packages)

3. In the page CTRL+F find headers-x.x.xx-xx-generic and download the
   1. linux-headers-x.x.xx-xx-generic_x.x.xx-xx.yy_amd64.deb
   2. linux-headers-x.x.xx-xx-generic_x.x.xx-xx.yy_all.deb

4. In the page CTRL+F find image-x.x.xx-xx-generic and download the

   1. linux-image-2.6.32-21-generic_2.6.32-21.32_amd64.deb

5. Put all of these packages in a folder alone, and from that folder (cd into it) run

   1. sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Answer 4

The easiest way is to install Ubuntu Mainline Kernel Installer.
In terminal type the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:cappelikan/ppa
sudo apt update
sudo apt install mainline

see screenshot:
.
It is Gui-based and very easy to use to add and remove mainline (hence the name) kernels.