Do NOT update to CentOS 6 kernel 2.6.32-696.18.7, 2.6.32-696.20.1.el6 safe to use

We've come across an issue related to the Intel microcode security bug and its supposed fix.

The latest kernel update to CentOS 6 (kernel 2.6.32-696.18.7.el6.x86_64) does not boot. They've attempted to fix the microcode security bug, but pushed out a cure worse than the disease. In their rush to fix the problem, they failed to properly test and created a kernel that won't boot.

Do NOT install this kernel.

If you need to run 'yum update' to get updates for your CentOS 6 system (hwVPS, e-hwVPS, or physical machine), please use this command instead:

This will exclude the kernel from the updates being installed.

If you have any other OS, you're unaffected. Only CentOS 6 is affected.

You can see more information about this open issue at:
https://bugs.centos.org/view.php?id=14336

If you have already installed this kernel, do NOT reboot! Instead, edit /etc/grub.conf in vim or vi (or other familiar linux text editor from SSH into your system as root) and change this:

to this:

This sets the default kernel used for boot to be the second one in the list shown later in grub.conf. If needed, you can also lengthen the timeout value in grub.conf to allow more time to select a kernel during boot (using xen-shell console if you have an hwVPS).

If you have a Managed hwVPS, please do not attempt to update your hwVPS on your own. Contact support by opening a ticket in the billing control panel here: https://cbp.speedingbits.com/billing/submitticket.php

There is now a newer kernel version 2.6.32-696.20.1.el6 available. We're testing this now and should have results shortly.

Kernel version 2.6.32-696.20.1.el6 functions and is safe to use.