Unable to retrieve Kernel details via API

Posted on September 26, 2016

I started a couple of days ago with DO and now I have an issue with the API. According to the API docs is it possible to retrieve details about the kernel. Both my droplets return null with a working READ/WRITE token.

$ curl -X GET  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" "https://api.digitalocean.com/v2/droplets/25333333"
{  
   "droplet":{  
...
      "status":"active",
      "kernel":null,
      "created_at":"2016-09-11T11:17:02Z",
...

Am I missing something?

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fabianaffolter

September 27, 2016

Thanks for your response.

Why not display the current kernel even if it’s an “internally managed” kernel? Showing what kernel is in use and not allow to change it through the API are two different topics from my point of view.

No need to login and to use uname ;-)

Andrew SB

September 26, 2016

Newer DigitalOcean Droplets use their own bootloaders and “internally managed” kernels. For these Droplets, the API will report the "kernel" as null as you can not change the kernel either through the API or the control panel. You can update or install new kernels as you normally would on a bare-metal server. We can probably make that more clear in the API documentation.

We’ve also provided an upgrade path for older Droplets. In order to use the “internally managed” kernels without rebuilding your Droplet, you can now set the “DigitalOcean GrubLoader” from your Droplet’s kernel menu or via the API.

Find more details here:

https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-update-a-digitalocean-server-s-kernel