Differences between Supported Kernel and Legacy Kernel

Latest response

Hi,

I am just wondering what is the differences between Supported Kernel and Legacy Kernel? I am reviewing the possibility to install SEP in the Linux server and my spec as below:-

[root home]# uname -a
Linux 2.6.18-164.el5 #1 SMP Tue Aug 18 15:51:48 EDT 2009 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[root proc]# lsb_release -a
LSB Version: :core-3.1-amd64:core-3.1-ia32:core-3.1-noarch:graphics-3.1-amd64:graphics-3.1-ia32:graphics-3.1-noarch
Distributor ID: RedHatEnterpriseServer
Description: Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server release 5.4 (Tikanga)
Release: 5.4
Codename: Tikanga

[root proc]# rpm -qa 'release'
redhat-release-5Server-5.4.0.3
redhat-release-notes-5Server-29

[root etc]# cat redhat-release
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server release 5.4 (Tikanga)

[root etc]# java -version
java version "1.6.0_19"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_19-b04)
Java HotSpot(TM) Server VM (build 16.2-b04, mixed mode)

It appears in the Legacy kernel for the Symantec Endpoint Protection 12.1.5 client for Linux but supported Operating System is Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (RHEL) 5U7 - 5U10, 6U2 - 6U5; 32-bit and 64-bit. Please advise.

https://support.symantec.com/en_US/article.TECH224712.html
https://support.symantec.com/en_US/article.TECH223240.html#12.1.5.Legacy

Regards
Kwan

Responses

Hi,

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.4 is no longer supported by Red Hat, and my understanding from the Symantec pages is that this version is no longer supported by Symantec, either.

Have you considered upgrading to a newer version?

Radek

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. No longer supported but can it be installed? What about my first query - the differences between Supported Kernel and Legacy Kernel.

Regards,
Kwan

The old version can be installed if you still have the packages (or the ISO image). However, given its age and status (including the fact that many security fixes have been released since 5.4), I wouldn't recommend doing that.

There's no such term as Legacy Kernel in Red Hat's glossary, as far as I can tell. You're either running an supported or an unsupported RHEL X.Y version. By all means, you can, technically, keep any unsupported version; however, Symantec may have some technical limitations base on the kernel you're running.

Just to clarify, old versions of RHEL 5 are still supported for usage and configuration queries. If you open a support case with RHEL 5.4, we'll still help, but if you run into a software bug which is fixed with an update, then we'll ask you to update.

RHEL 5 is in the part of its lifecycle where we're only doing updates for very few issues, and we're only delivering those updates into RHEL 5.11.

The product life cycle is covered in detail here and we've also just launched a Life Cycle Checker here on the Customer Portal.

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