How to Modify GRUB2 Default Entries to Boot Kernel Versions

This time we will discuss how to modify the default GRUB2 entry to boot a different Kernel version, as follows:


1. Check the running Vesri Kernel.

# uname -a Linux geeklab 3.8.13-94.el7uek.x86_64 #2 SMP Wed Feb 11 14:18:22 PST 2015 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

2. List of Kernel Entries as per GRUB2 file:

# awk -F\' '$1=="menuentry " {print $2}' /etc/grub2.cfg Oracle Linux Server, with Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel 3.8.13-94.el7uek.x86_64 Oracle Linux Server, with Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel 3.8.13-94.el7uek.x86_64 with debugging Oracle Linux Server 7.1, with Linux 3.10.0-229.el7.x86_64 Oracle Linux Server 7.1, with Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel 3.8.13-55.1.6.el7uek.x86_64 Oracle Linux Server 7.1, with Linux 0-rescue-441e86c9ff854310a306bd33e56aae2b
NOTE: The first entry is denoted as Zero. So currently the Server is booted to the 0th entry according to the "uname -a" command output above.

3. Let's change the Kernel Version to 3.8.13-55.1.6.el7uek.x86_64 which is on line number 4 but denoted as entry 3.

# grub2-set-default 3

4. Changes in /etc/default/grub requires recreating the grub.cfg file as follows:

# grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg Generating grub configuration file ... Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.10.0-229.el7.x86_64 Found initrd image: /boot/initramfs-3.10.0-229.el7.x86_64.img Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.8.13-94.el7uek.x86_64 Found initrd image: /boot/initramfs-3.8.13-94.el7uek.x86_64.img Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-3.8.13-55.1.6.el7uek.x86_64 Found initrd image: /boot/initramfs-3.8.13-55.1.6.el7uek.x86_64.img Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-0-rescue-441e86c9ff854310a306bd33e56aae2b Found initrd image: /boot/initramfs-0-rescue-441e86c9ff854310a306bd33e56aae2b.img done

Reboot the Server and it will boot with Kernel Version 3.8.13-55.1.6.el7uek.x86_64

# shutdown -r now

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