Oracle Linux 7 - Kernel 4.1

[JaySt]

I'm running into a Oracle Linux 7 environment with several hosts running kernel version 4.1.x UEK (Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel).
Looking at https://www.veeam.com/kb2804 , the agent supports upto 3.1
Installing the veeamsnap module and agent (offline install) result in failing backups due to the snapshot phase failing.

I'm not a specialist on this matter (meaning the *NIX world), but i'm wondering why kernel 4.1 has no support. It's not like it's brand new, right?
Is it uncommon for a Oracle Linux (or RHEL) environment to run kernel 4.1 perhaps?

[PTide]

Hi,

The KB contains info about RHCK (Red Hat Compatible Kernel). RHCK is the very same kernel that is used in RedHat and CentOS. However, Oracle Linux can also use its own kernel which is called UEK.
In other words, when you install Oracle Linux you basically install two kernels - one is UEK, and another is RHCK. And those two are different things.

Although VAL supports UEK4 (kernel-uek-4.1.x), you must install veeamsnap package from source (veeamsnap-<version>-noarch.rpm). kmod-version (kmod-veeamsnap) won't work on that kernel.
For RHCK you can use kmod-veeamsnap instead.

So, my questions is - did you install kmod-veeamsnap, or just veeamsnap?

Thanks!

[JaySt]

Thanks for the clarification.
Good question. We tried alot. I think the kmod was used. So that wont work for sure then.
So, my best option is building with the noarch package and the proper kernel headers?

[PTide]

Right. Although it might sound more complicated and cumbersome than installing kmod, in fact you just need to have dkms and kernel-headers installed. Once those components are in place, you can just run yum install veeamsnap and it will build everything for you. Dkms will ensure that the module is rebuilt against the new kernel every time you update it. The reasoning behind such design (not supporting kmod on UEK) is simply that UEK doesn't promise kABI stability even within the same minor release, which causes pre-built kenrel module binary to fail.

Thanks!

[JaySt]

good background info! explains some stuff! thanks !