[Users] Need help understanding kernel version numbers

[Jim Archer]

Hi All...

I have always been confused by the kernel version numbers and I finally 
decided to just look stupid and ask.

I am currently running:

actual:/home/jim/openvz/kernels# uname -a
Linux actual.registrationtek.com 2.6.18-openvz-amd64 #1 SMP Mon Mar 12 
21:59:13 UTC 2007 x86_64 GNU/Linux
actual:/home/jim/openvz/kernels#


The file name for the deb package for this version is:

linux-image-2.6.18-openvz-amd64_028.18-2.6.18-11-1_amd64.deb

I see that there is now:

linux-image-2.6.18-openvz-amd64_028.18.1-2.6.18-12-1_amd64.deb


This file has a date of April 11, 2007, so I know it's newer.  But how can 
I tell from the version numbers?  Both are 028.18 but the newer one has a 
lower number, .1-2, than the older one, which has 6.  So what's the proper 
way to parse this?

Also, is there a posted list of changes?  I'm running OpenVZ in production 
now and so prefer not to risk an upgrade and reboot unless necessary.

Thanks!

Jim