Quick kernel question from a vps newb - do I have to worry when I update centOS that a new kernel will replace the linode one?

If you're not using pv-grub then the centOS kernel isn't used at all.

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Rgds
Stephen
(Linux user since kernel version 0.11)

sweh is correct - but if you are running your own kernel, adding the following to the [main] section of /etc/yum.conf will prevent it being updated:

exclude=kernel kernel-*

You can use any package name or glob pattern to exclude other packages, too.