KernelCare applies available live security patches to a supported running Linux kernel. Installation belongs to the server administrator: it is not a WordPress extension or a setting to enable from an ordinary hosting account. If Nuagerie manages the relevant service, ask us to confirm the existing configuration before purchasing a licence or installing another agent.
Prepare the installation
- Check the exact environment. Follow our kernel compatibility verification guide. Confirm the running kernel, distribution release, architecture and whether you administer the host or only a container. A distribution name alone does not establish coverage.
- Confirm responsibility and licensing. Identify who maintains the server and which licence applies. TuxCare documents both IP-based and activation-key licensing; use the instructions for the actual subscription. Do not publish a licence key or include it in a screenshot.
- Review prerequisites and recovery. Check the existing live-patching software, network requirements and a usable recovery path. TuxCare specifically states that KernelCare and Canonical Livepatch must not run together. Switching products requires an administrator's migration plan.
Use the current vendor procedure
The authorised administrator should follow the current TuxCare installation instructions, review the installer before running it with elevated privileges, and complete any licence activation required for that server. Installation changes the system and may begin applying available patches. Schedule and supervise it accordingly.
If Secure Boot is enabled, check the supported certificate-enrolment procedure for the platform. Requirements differ by distribution and boot configuration, and setup can require a reboot. Do not disable Secure Boot as a routine installation shortcut.
Verify the result and keep maintaining the server
A successful installer message or valid licence does not prove that patches are active. Use the read-only checks in our verification guide to inspect the running kernel and applied patches. The administrator should also confirm the intended update policy, investigate errors, and check the services used by customers after the change.
Live patching complements normal maintenance. Application updates, kernel features and fixes outside the available live patches still need attention. Our KernelCare reboot guidance explains why a maintenance window may still be needed.
For help planning installation, contact Nuagerie with the service concerned, distribution and exact kernel version, and who currently administers it. These details let us identify the appropriate next step without duplicating an existing deployment.
