Update your Linux Kernel in real time without rebooting your machine

When ever Ubuntu updates the Linux kernel to a more recent version, I have to go through the rigmarole of rebooting my machine for the changes to take effect. While for a home user, it may not be such a big thing, while running Linux in critical situations, it may not always be feasible to reboot the server each time the kernel gets updated because running applications have to be stopped, and daemons have to be terminated for the reboot to take place - which inevitably leads to loss of time and inconvenience to others.

Enter a new technology called Ksplice.

The Ksplice service called Uptrack will update the Linux kernel in your system while it is running without disrupting your operations or requiring a reboot.

Christopher Smart has written an in depth article on Ksplice where he dwells on the advantages of running the Uptrack service on your machine. Currently, the Ksplice Uptrack service is available for Ubuntu 9.04 aka Jaunty Jackalope.