[clue-tech] Upgrading

[David Anselmi]

Jeff Schroeder wrote:
[...]
> Note that many files in /etc are useful to keep, too.  The 
> password/shadow files are important, as are things like network 
> interface definitions (if you're not using DHCP) or the hosts file.  

Good idea to do a backup first, so you don't format and then say "oops, 
/root was on / and I wanted to keep that".  The other thing you'll need 
is a list of what you want installed so the package list stays the same 
(plus dependency changes).

RPM and Debian should allow you to update by pointing to a new version 
and running update.  At least Debian can figure out which old packages 
are replaced by which new ones.  You may end up with some cruft though.

For me, I've been running Debian testing and doing an upgrade every 
month or so.  That way my machines are always pretty up to date and I'll 
never have to do a massive upgrade like RH9 to FC1 or Win2k to WinXP. 
Since package entry to testing is automated and not always synchronized 
I have to be a little careful (on desktop machines with KDE or other 
huge packages that sync poorly).  But I haven't had much trouble on servers.

Dave