The VERSION argument must be the kernel version string as shown by uname -r and used in filenames.

The IMAGE-PATH argument must be the absolute filename of the kernel image.

By default, this command maintains symlinks in the root directory. This behaviour can be modified by settings in /etc/kernel-img.conf:

image_dest Specifies the directory in which to maintain symlinks

link_in_boot

If set to a true value, specifies that the directory is /boot

no_symlinks

If set to a false value, disables maintenance of symlinks

The symlinks for the primary default kernel version are named vmlinuz or vmlinux (depending on whether the architecture normally uses compressed kernel images) and initrd.img (if it uses an initramfs). The symlinks for the secondary default have the same names with the suffix .old.

If symlink maintenance is disabled, linux-update-symlinks does nothing, successfully. Otherwise it makes a list of kernel versions in decreasing order of priority:

• The given VERSION, if the first argument is install
• The current primary default version, if it exists and is not already listed
• The current secondary default version, if it exists and is not already listed
• All other versions whose files are installed, excluding the specified VERSION if the first argument is remove, in decreasing version order

The top two entries on the list are the new primary and secondary default versions, and it updates the symlinks accordingly. In case there is only one entry, this is both the primary and secondary default version. If there are no entries, there are no default versions and it removes the default symlinks.