Linux Mint is always moving forward – and usually doing so in just the right ways. Such is the case with a new tool the developers have teased that could do a great job handling kernel cleanup.

You know, when you've upgraded your kernel and there are still older versions lying around?

Well, the developers are considering the idea of creating a system similar to what Fedora already has. That system will group kernels by series and allow you to decide which series you want to keep and how many iterations of that series you want to retain. Once you've configured the tool, it works automatically to remove old kernels on a weekly basis.

The one exception to this is when/if you install a custom kernel series. According to the Linux Mint blog, "When you track a known series, the tool installs its meta-packages and ensures you receive updates for that series. In the case of a custom series, the tool doesn’t know how to do that and warns you that it is your responsibility to do so."

This new feature moves kernel management away from the Update Manager and into the System Administration tool and is a one-time setup. According to the blog, there will also be a history feature, so you can check to see what kernels have been removed and when.

This new feature is currently planned for the next release of Linux Mint.