[panpanna]

Now compare that to Linux where even the kernel can be updated without a reboot...

(Assuming you run a recent Ubuntu)

[eyegor]

Huh? The one thing you generally can't update is the kernel since it's the foundation of every other process. I haven't used ubuntu in several years, have things changed drastically?

[shakna]

There were three large patches that were integrated into the Linux kernel in version 4.0 (2014) that make it so that you can live patch the kernel easily. [0][1][2]

(Before these arrived there were already some tool's for it, for some distros. But now everyone should be able to, unless the distro intentionally cripples the ability).

[0] https://lwn.net/Articles/619390/

[1] https://lwn.net/Articles/622936/

[2] https://lwn.net/Articles/634649/

[innocenat]

Only if you register for Canonical Livepatch Service. Standard Ubuntu still requires reboot.

[m4rtink]

They do kexec ? (And no, ksplice/kpatch, if they are using that is not booting a new kernel.) I would be kinda worried about long term system state in that case...

[Dylan16807]

I'm confused by your question. Kexec is a reboot, at least as currently implemented, and that comment does not claim that it's "booting a new kernel".

[rcxdude]

Only partially: you can apply some bugfix and securit patches, but straight upgrades to a new kernel version still requires a reboot.