LTS and dist-upgrade

[re-entity]

I'm running everything on 10.04 LTS. I assume that a dist-upgrade would mean I'm no longer running "supported" software. Is that correct?

Before upgrading to 10.04 I always ran the most recent kernel and KDE on my desktop, but was less inclined to upgrade my server, hence they got out of sync and things like MythTV would stop working. Can I get some recommendations for sustainable upgrade paths?

[vinnywright]

Re: LTS and dist-upgrade

I'm running everything on 10.04 LTS. I assume that a dist-upgrade would mean I'm no longer running "supported" software. Is that correct?

from man apt-get
dist-upgrade
dist-upgrade in addition to performing the function of upgrade, also intelligently
handles changing dependencies with new versions of packages; apt-get has a "smart"
conflict resolution system, and it will attempt to upgrade the most important packages
at the expense of less important ones if necessary. So, dist-upgrade command may
remove some packages. The /etc/apt/sources.list file contains a list of locations from
which to retrieve desired package files. See also apt_preferences(5) for a mechanism
for overriding the general settings for individual packages.

upgrade
upgrade is used to install the newest versions of all packages currently installed on
the system from the sources enumerated in /etc/apt/sources.list. Packages currently
installed with new versions available are retrieved and upgraded; under no
circumstances are currently installed packages removed, or packages not already
installed retrieved and installed. New versions of currently installed packages that
cannot be upgraded without changing the install status of another package will be left
at their current version. An update must be performed first so that apt-get knows that
new versions of packages are available.

basically this means that "upgrade" will upgrade packages but if the package upgrade requires removing a related package it wont............dist-upgrade will remove/add things as necessary

if the packages were supported packages then yes their still supported

VINNY

[dibl]

Re: LTS and dist-upgrade

I always use dist-upgrade, rather than upgrade. Upgrade only looks for newer versions of existing installed packages, but if there are new dependencies, then it won't upgrade your package. D-U looks for new packages that are for your distribution, including new versions of existing installed packages that have new dependent packages.

[re-entity]

Re: LTS and dist-upgrade

Ok, so dist-upgrade maintains your LTS install. Good.

The following adds a repository to upgrade to KDE4.5.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports

With a dist-upgrade now, are you still within the LTS version?

[dibl]

Re: LTS and dist-upgrade

All of the apt-get commands will scan all your repositories. So, if you set a PPA as a repository, then either update or dist-upgrade will pull packages from it when they are newer versions than your installed packages.

I think adding PPA and backport repositories will technically be viewed as a deviation from the LTS released distro. In other words, if the standard repositories (as shown in /etc/apt/sources.list) are considered the "official LTS sources", then other sources that you add in /etc/apt/sources.list.d will be "outside" the official released distribution.

[re-entity]

Re: LTS and dist-upgrade

Ok, understood!

Last time I ended up with a newer kernel running on my desktop and a slightly older one on my server. The new kernel meant it also ran a newer version of MythTV which was not compatible with the server. It took a bit of time to learn how to uninstall the new Myth-Frontend and revert to the older version.

I guess there are 2 'safe' paths here.
1. Apply only updates from the default repositories.
2. Make identical upgrades to both desktop and server.

I guess the second is more likely to break things than the first. Any recommendations?

[Fintan]

Re: LTS and dist-upgrade

I am no expert on this but if you are upgrading your DT (kde4.4->kde4.5) and not using any PPA or other repo that will upgrade your kernel beyond the LTS then you should be okay.

So, if you are using 10.04 DT and server you will have basically the same kernel updates.

[dibl]

Re: LTS and dist-upgrade

Linux kernels are a special case. If you follow your option #2 (keep repos synchronized between desktop and server), and if you do not add any third party repos where Linux kernels are distributed, then you should be OK -- you will only get *buntu kernels.

Here's another suggestion: If you find a need to pull a new version of a package from Backports, for example, you can enable that repo in /etc/apt/sources.d/ and get your package, then comment out the repo. I have done that to get a specific package from Debian testing, for example. Just do the same on the desktop and the server, so they stay synchronized, and it should be OK.

[re-entity]

Re: LTS and dist-upgrade

Thanks dibl. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuBackports provides some useful info about your suggestion.

I moved house over the weekend so I still haven't decided whether to upgrade to KDE 4.5 yet but I can't see a good reason not to with this new information.

[Snowhog]

Re: LTS and dist-upgrade

I still haven't decided whether to upgrade to KDE 4.5 yet but I can't see a good reason not to with this new information.

Well, if you have a stable, working, reliable system with KDE 4.4.5, and you don't mind taking the risk of changing that, add the PPA and upgrade KDE to 4.5. Maybe you won't have any issues, and if so, wonderful. But I'm following Claydoh's advise and waiting until KDE reaches (at least) version 4.5.1 before I upgrade. Having a stable system is far more important to me than "keeping up with the neighbors."

[Vistaus]

Re: LTS and dist-upgrade

@Snowhog: You'rre right in some point. But just keep in mind that even though 4.4.5 is labeled stable and proven stable, it doesn't have to be stable. Everything on computers CAN be unstable.

[GreyGeek]

Re: LTS and dist-upgrade

I'm on my forth day with the KDE 4.5 desktop and so far I have had ZERO problems. Actually, I can't tell it from the the 4.45 version except that the system tray icons for the cut&paste, the mixer and the battery applets look different. Oh, and the "notification & jobs" icon and the system tray "show hidden icons" icon have switched sides.

With 4.45 the only problem that wouldn't stay fixed was my panel being half black and half gray. I'd toggle the panel theme every time I booted up to make it all gray. Now it stays with the theme I set. No involuntary "composite" stuff.