For the x86_64 platform, the current Oracle Linux 9 release ships with the following kernel packages:

• 6.12.0-1.23.3.2 (Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel Release 8 (UEK R8)) (Default)

• 5.14.0-570.12.1.0.1 (Red Hat Compatible Kernel (RHCK))

For new installations, UEK R8 is automatically enabled and installed. It also becomes the default kernel on first boot.

If you're upgrading from a previous Oracle Linux 9 update release, the kernel isn't automatically upgraded to UEK R8. See Installation and Boot for more information.

For the aarch64 platform, Oracle Linux ships with the UEK kernel only.

The Oracle Linux release is tested as a bundle, as shipped on the installation media image. When installed from the installation media image, the kernel's version included in the image is the minimum version that's supported. Downgrading kernel packages isn't supported, unless recommended by Oracle Support.