@johnvick:
Thanks John for helping.
First have to say, I personally have null,zero, nada skill in kernel building from source or patching source code.
Kernel is not selected by DiePI team. It only depend on what base line destribution maintainer have build in.
So in your case have a look on login screen:
or
root@NanoPi-Neo:~# cat /proc/version
Linux version 3.4.113-sun8i (root@armbian) (gcc version 5.4.0 20160609 (Ubuntu/Linaro 5.4.0-6ubuntu1~16.04.4) ) #4 SMP PREEMPT Wed Nov 22 13:45:28 CET 2017
Have never ever read a single word here, that DietPi build his own Kernel, Firmware, Device Tree, u-boot, uImage, …
This, for your particular device, was done by ARMbian .
And they use, in your example, Debian as base Distro system.
root@NanoPi-Neo:~# cat /etc/debian_version
8.10
root@NanoPi-Neo:~# cat /etc/apt/sources.list
deb http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian/ jessie main contrib non-free
deb http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian/ jessie-updates main contrib non-free
deb http://security.debian.org jessie/updates main contrib non-free
deb http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian/ jessie-backports main contrib non-free
To get it clear: (have quote it now more then twenty times)
Sorry, where is no and never ever was a “official kernel for DietPI”. It was a ARMbian kernel, build with armbian build tools.
Why?
Because the manufactor is incapable, to give you a working Debian base OS image, with a working Kernel, Firmware, Device Tree, u-boot, uImage, … BUT he is able to take YOUR money!
And he is not willing to give you any pursue software support.
This work have be done by ARMbian.
So DietPi was able to get some running application software on it, with user friendly and easy config- and install-managment.
But back to you base question.
You can simple install a other kernel version via
apt-get install
see Package repository – Armbian and reboot.
Hmm … I think a starting point can be here: Building Armbian - Armbian Documentation
More and continuative infos can be found here: FriendlyARM NanoPi NEO & AIR - linux-sunxi.org
Sorry, if all this sound a bit pissed, but all infos can be found on your device, by searching or inside this forum.
This never has been a secrect or something DietPi have to deceit and fraudulent concealment.
But please keep a eye on this:
https://github.com/Fourdee/DietPi/issues/1537#issue-298337026
The subject ARMbian based images is for DietPi now history.