是否值得将Ubuntu 17.10的4.13内核升级至4.15？

Hey there! Since your current 4.13 kernel is running rock-solid on Ubuntu 17.10, let's break down the pros and cons of moving to 4.15 to help you decide if it's worth the effort.

Key Benefits of Upgrading to 4.15 #

• Better Hardware Support: 4.15 is a Long-Term Support (LTS) kernel, which means it adds full support for a lot more modern hardware—think newer GPUs, wireless adapters, SSDs, and peripherals. If you've been eyeing new hardware, or have a device that's not working perfectly with 4.13, this alone could make the upgrade worthwhile.
• Performance Tweaks: The 4.15 kernel brings improvements to CPU scheduling (especially for multi-core systems), file system performance (ext4, Btrfs, etc.), and IO latency. You might notice snappier performance when handling large files, running multiple apps at once, or doing resource-heavy tasks like video editing.
• Enhanced Security: It includes critical security patches for vulnerabilities like Meltdown/Spectre (and their follow-up fixes), plus patches for dozens of other kernel-level bugs. If system security is a priority for you, this is a meaningful upgrade.
• Bug Fixes: Even if you haven't hit issues yet, 4.15 fixes a ton of known bugs from the 4.13 branch—things like occasional memory leaks, rare system freezes in specific use cases, or minor hardware glitches that might pop up down the line.

Potential Risks to Consider #

• Compatibility Hiccups: While 4.15 is mature, some older hardware or closed-source drivers (like older NVIDIA GPU drivers, or specialized industrial device drivers) might not play nice. Since your current setup is stable, this is a small risk, but it's worth checking if your critical hardware has known issues with 4.15 before upgrading.
• No Official Updates for Ubuntu 17.10: Ubuntu 17.10 reached end-of-life ages ago, so the official repos won't push 4.15 kernel updates for you. You'll have to install it manually (using tools like ukuu or downloading deb packages directly) and handle future security patches yourself. If you don't want to mess with manual maintenance, this could be a dealbreaker.

Final Recommendation #

If any of these apply to you, go for the upgrade:

• You have hardware that's not fully supported on 4.13
• You want better performance or stronger security
• You're comfortable manually managing kernel updates

But if your current system does everything you need without a hitch, there's no urgent reason to upgrade—stability is king, and your 4.13 setup is already proven reliable.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Michael