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Why is server restart required? Why is a restart only required on some updates? When is it necessary to reboot an Ubuntu system?

After reading these questions, I'm curious about another question: my centos server has never asked me to reboot the system, even if there's a linux-kernel upgrade. It works perfectly for a long time without a reboot.

Why? And is it possible to safely run a ubuntu-server for a long time without reboot?

recolic
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    If you don't reboot you don't get the (kernel) updates activated. – Soren A Sep 26 '17 at 12:28
  • @SorenA -- the same with core system files. while they can be updated while running, the update does get activated until a restart of the system – ravery Sep 26 '17 at 12:31

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Why does ubuntu need reboot after upgrade but centos doesn't?

That is not true.

Ubuntu does not need a reboot after an upgrade/update of a kernel. It is adviced to do so so the new kernel become active but there is no "need" for it.

And is it possible to safely run a ubuntu-server for a long time without reboot?

Our record for Ubuntu is an uptime of more than 7 years (yes, it ran far longer than the support from Ubuntu lasted).

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Oh and CentOS also tells you to reboot when there is a change in kernel. See for instance: https://www.redhat.com/archives/rhl-list/2009-July/msg00195.html

The kernel case is obvious; installing a kernel is useless without a reboot. But in other cases the new stuff will be used together with the old one. For example, replaced libs will be used by programs freshly started, and old libs will be used for programs already running. So, the reboot is not strictly required. maybe you may want to restart some services or applications.

Rinzwind
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