It is generally safe to remove old kernels from a Linux server as long as you are sure that the server is using a newer and fully functional kernel. Removing old kernels can free up space on the server and help to reduce clutter and confusion.
To safely remove old kernels from a Linux server, follow these steps:
Check which kernels are currently installed on the server. You can use the uname -r command to check the currently running kernel, and the rpm -q kernel command to list all of the kernels that are installed on the server.
Check the server logs to make sure that the currently running kernel is functioning correctly. The logs are usually located in the /var/log directory.
Check the system boot configuration to make sure that the currently running kernel is set as the default kernel. The boot configuration is usually stored in the /boot/grub/grub.conf file or in the /etc/default/grub file.
Use the rpm command to remove the old kernels that you no longer need. For example:
# rpm -e kernel-3.10.0-514.26.2.el7.x86_64
This will remove the kernel package with the specified name.
grub2-mkconfig command to regenerate the boot configuration. This will update the boot menu to reflect the changes you have made. For example:# grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg
It's important to note that these steps are just a general example of how to remove old kernels from a Linux server. The specific steps may vary depending on the Linux distribution and the version of the kernel. Consult the documentation and online resources for more information on how to safely remove old kernels from your server.