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Asked: 2024-09-24T17:14:35+05:30 In:

How can I simplify the process of uninstalling outdated kernels in Ubuntu 20.04 LTS?

I’ve been dealing with this issue that’s driving me a bit nuts: outdated kernels piling up on my Ubuntu 20.04 LTS system. I mean, every time I run an update, it seems like another kernel version shows up, and I’ve got a whole line of them in my boot menu now. I get that having multiple kernels is a safety net of sorts, but at this point, I feel like I’m running out of disk space and sanity trying to figure out how to get rid of those old ones.

I tried a couple of commands like `dpkg -l | grep linux-image` to see what I had installed, and then using `sudo apt-get purge` to uninstall them individually. But man, that’s a painstaking process! I have to check which kernel I’m currently running and then go through and purge each of the others. It feels so tedious! And every time I think I’ve cleaned up, I check again and discover there’s still stuff lingering around.

I also want to avoid the risk of accidentally removing the kernel that I’m currently using, because I’ve read horror stories about that! Not to mention, I’m not super savvy when it comes to command-line stuff, and I really don’t want to mess anything up.

I’ve heard there are some scripts or tools that can help automate this process, but I’m not sure which ones to trust or use. Honestly, it would be awesome if this could be done with just a one-liner or through a graphical interface!

So, how do you all handle this process? Is there a more straightforward way to clean up these outdated kernels without having to babysit each command? Any tips or tools you’ve found that make this easier would be greatly appreciated. I just want to declutter my system without the hassle of a detailed command-line operation every time!

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    2 Answers

    1. Dealing with old kernels can definitely be a hassle, but there are ways to make it much easier!

      First off, if you’re worried about running out of space and don’t want to go through the tedious process of purging each kernel individually, there’s a handy command that can help!

      sudo apt-get autoremove --purge

      This command will automatically remove all the old kernels you’re not using anymore, along with other packages that are no longer needed. Just run this in your terminal, and it should do the trick without requiring you to babysit each command.

      But, before you do that, make sure to double-check which kernel you’re currently using by running:

      uname -r

      This way, you can be certain that the command won’t touch the kernel you’re currently on.

      Another option is to use Ubuntu Cleaner, which is a graphical tool that can help you manage old kernels and clean up your system easily. You can install it from the terminal using:

      sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gerardpuig/ppa
      sudo apt update
      sudo apt install ubuntu-cleaner

      Once installed, you can open it, and it has a simple interface that lets you select old kernels to remove without the risk of messing anything up.

      In summary, use the autoremove --purge command for a quick cleanup or try Ubuntu Cleaner for a more visual approach. Either way, you won’t have to spend hours managing kernels anymore!

    2. To tackle the problem of outdated kernels cluttering your Ubuntu 20.04 LTS system, there are indeed easier ways to manage them without manually purging each one. One simple solution is to use the tool Ukuu, which provides a user-friendly graphical interface for kernel management. By installing Ukuu, you can easily view all installed kernels, and you’ll have the option to remove old versions with just a few clicks. Furthermore, if you prefer command-line solutions, you can utilize the byobu utility, which offers the command sudo purge-old-kernels. This command automatically cleans up old kernels while ensuring that you keep the current and the latest versions, effectively minimizing the risk of inadvertently removing the kernel you’re currently using.

      If you want a more customizable approach using the command line, you can create a one-liner script. An example is: sudo apt autoremove --purge linux-image-x.x.x-x-generic, where you would replace the version number with the specific kernels you wish to remove. However, to automate this further, consider script-kernel-cleanup, which is a community-contributed script that intelligently cleans up your kernels while keeping the necessary ones intact. This way, you won’t have to babysit every step of the removal process, making it a simple and efficient solution to maintain a tidy boot menu and save disk space without the hassle of complicated command-line commands.

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