UEK vs. RHCK Kernels
Oracle Linux ships two kernels:
| Kernel | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UEK (Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel) | kernel-uek |
Oracle's custom kernel; updated frequently; often has newer driver versions than RHCK |
| RHCK (Red Hat Compatible Kernel) | kernel |
Follows RHEL kernel; maximizes RHEL compatibility |
For FC storage: Both kernels include lpfc and qla2xxx. However, HBA driver versions differ between UEK and RHCK. If you experience an HBA-specific issue, check whether the problem reproduces on both kernels before engaging vendor support.
Check active kernel and HBA driver version:
uname -r
# Check lpfc driver version
modinfo lpfc | grep ^version
# Check qla2xxx driver version
modinfo qla2xxx | grep ^versionSubscription and Packages
Oracle Linux Premier or Basic support:
# Register with Oracle ULN (optional - free updates available via public yum)
# Update system
sudo dnf update -yInstall essential packages:
sudo dnf install -y \
device-mapper-multipath \
lvm2 \
sg3_utils \
sysfsutils
sudo dnf install -y sysstat iotop htop