Oracle® Virtual Networking Host Drivers for Oracle Linux and Oracle VM Installation and Boot Guide

Exit Print View

Updated: July 2016
 
 

Base Kernels and Final Kernels

Some OSes, such as Oracle Linux 6.4, do not have the Oracle Virtual Networking host drivers embedded. OSes that do not have embedded host drivers can be upgraded to a later kernel version that contain embedded host drivers. In this case, the OS would come with a base kernel, which does not have host drivers embedded in the OS. After upgrade, the OS would have a final kernel, which does have host drivers embedded into the OS.

As an option, you can decide to not embed host drivers into the host OS. In this case, the host drivers are a separate software package that you can install after the host OS is completely installed. For information about installing the host drivers as a separate software package, see the Oracle Virtual Networking host driver product notes for the corresponding host OS.


Note -  The presence or absence of host drivers embedded in the host OS is dependent on the kernel version of the OS. So if, for any reason, the OS kernel is equal to or greater than the “Final Version” shown in Unbundled Installation Method and Kernel Upgrade Method, that OS will have embedded host drivers. Be aware that changes to the OS can lead to a change in kernel version that supports embedded host drivers. For example, adding patches or an SRU to the underlying OS can change the kernel build version from an unbundled kernel version to an embedded kernel version. In this example, the behavior of kernel installation/activation would change even though the reason for the change was not related to the host drivers.

Related Information