Ubuntu – Best way to upgrade kernel in Ubuntu Desktop 14.04.3 LTS

kernel

Due to my wifi issue as mentioned here I have to upgrade my kernel to 4.2.x
following these commands:

$ cd /tmp  
$ wget \  kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.2.5-wily/linux-headers-4.2.5-040205_4.2.5-040205.201510270124_all.deb \  kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.2.5-wily/linux-headers-4.2.5-040205-generic_4.2.5-040205.201510270124_amd64.deb \  kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.2.5-wily/linux-image-4.2.5-040205-generic_4.2.5-040205.201510270124_amd64.deb  
$ sudo dpkg -i linux-headers-4.2*.deb linux-image-4.2*.deb

And i know i can remove that using:

sudo apt-get remove linux-headers-4.2* linux-image-4.2*

This has fixed my wifi driver(Intel wifi 3165) issue. But I learnt that i got the kernel from mainline and it's not a very good idea as I won't be getting any more updates etc…
So what's the right way of upgrading the kernel?
I heard that i should be using:

sudo apt-get install linux-generic-lts-wily

Want to know what exactly i need to do to upgrade kernel properly? For me it's very important as if i don't have this kernel version my wifi doesn't work. Moreover want to know what will happen to my Ubuntu Desktop 14.04.3 LTS with this upgraded kernel when the new LTS version(16.04 LTS) comes in during April, 2016?

I have another constraint:
I need to be on LTS release as some of the software tools/products(DSE and RLEC) that i use – requires 14.04.3 LTS release only. That's why cannot go to 15.10

Best Answer

Installing from Ubuntu repositories is preferred.

This will install a supported Ubuntu kernel and it will get updates.

If you install a mainline kernel, you may have issues with some drivers, and you will have to update it manually.

Ubuntu kernel 4.2 will be default in the next "point" LTS release 14.04.4 that is scheduled to be out in Feb 2016.

There should be no problems in upgrading to 16.04.

Installing linux-generic-lts-wily now you install that kernel a bit earlier than it will be released for all LTS new installs.

You can read more about HWE Stack.

Related Question