Why is my Ubuntu system not using the correct kernel?
- by Brooks Moses
We're having a bit of confusion on a Ubuntu remote system -- /boot/grub/menu.lst suggests the system should boot into kernel 2.6.35-30-generic, but it is actually running kernel 2.6.32-27-generic. Where should I look to start figuring out why this is happening and how to fix it?
Specifically, /boot/grub/menu.lst has
default 0
and the first entry is
title Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.35-30-generic
uuid 67717ee3-cbf9-45d2-ae97-820256f4c4fd
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-30-generic root=UUID=67717ee3-cbf9-45d2- ae97-820256f4c4fd ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-30-generic
Further, I've confirmed that /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-30-generic and /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-30-generic exist and have appropriate permissions.
Meanwhile, uname -a returns:
$ uname -a
Linux cuda2 2.6.32-27-generic #49-Ubuntu SMP Thu Dec 2 00:51:09 UTC 2010 x86_64 GNU/Linux
Edit: I've also tried re-running update-grub, and rebooting; no luck.
Here's the full menu.lst, as requested by a commenter:
# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-legacy-doc/.
## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not use 'savedefault' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0
## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 3
## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
hiddenmenu
# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue
## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret
#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#
#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST
### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below
## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs
## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=67717ee3-cbf9-45d2-ae97-820256f4c4fd ro
## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=67717ee3-cbf9-45d2-ae97-820256f4c4fd
## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true
## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false
## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash
## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false
## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=
## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0
## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single
## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all
## specify if running in Xen domU or have grub detect automatically
## update-grub will ignore non-xen kernels when running in domU and vice versa
## e.g. indomU=detect
## indomU=true
## indomU=false
# indomU=detect
## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true
## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false
## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false
## ## End Default Options ##
title Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.35-30-generic
uuid 67717ee3-cbf9-45d2-ae97-820256f4c4fd
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-30-generic root=UUID=67717ee3-cbf9-45d2-ae97-820256f4c4fd ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-30-generic
title Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.35-30-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 67717ee3-cbf9-45d2-ae97-820256f4c4fd
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-30-generic root=UUID=67717ee3-cbf9-45d2-ae97-820256f4c4fd ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-30-generic
title Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.32-32-server
uuid 67717ee3-cbf9-45d2-ae97-820256f4c4fd
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-32-server root=UUID=67717ee3-cbf9-45d2-ae97-820256f4c4fd ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-32-server
title Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.32-32-server (recovery mode)
uuid 67717ee3-cbf9-45d2-ae97-820256f4c4fd
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-32-server root=UUID=67717ee3-cbf9-45d2-ae97-820256f4c4fd ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-32-server
title Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.32-27-generic
uuid 67717ee3-cbf9-45d2-ae97-820256f4c4fd
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-27-generic root=UUID=67717ee3-cbf9-45d2-ae97-820256f4c4fd ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-27-generic
title Ubuntu 10.10, kernel 2.6.32-27-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 67717ee3-cbf9-45d2-ae97-820256f4c4fd
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-27-generic root=UUID=67717ee3-cbf9-45d2-ae97-820256f4c4fd ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-27-generic
title Chainload into GRUB 2
root 67717ee3-cbf9-45d2-ae97-820256f4c4fd
kernel /boot/grub/core.img
title Ubuntu 10.10, memtest86+
uuid 67717ee3-cbf9-45d2-ae97-820256f4c4fd
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
To add complication and joy to my life, this is a desktop machine in a remote datacenter; we don't have either local access or serial-console access. Suggestions?
