Re: Update or Upgrade?

Regie H. Saberon wrote:
> Thanks for the reply, In what Nick says:
> 
> upgrade: moving between versions
> update:  patching an existing version.  No API or operation changes.
> 
> What are the pros and cons on upgrade and updates?  My system now is
> very stable as far as my needs is concern and I'm very satisfied through
> it. My only concern is as how to make my system up2date as far as the
> new release is concern? Is there anyway I can do that without backing up
> and rebuilding my system? :)
> 
> Tnx,
> Regie

The "pros" of upgrading is, well, you HAVE TO DO IT.
Not an option.

The cons:
While we try to make it simple, fast and painless as we can, it does
take a few minutes, which is still a lot more time than it takes to do
nothing (assuming 15 minutes is "a lot").

OpenBSD forces you to "move along" with the developers.  You can't
sit and park at one version of the OS for five years.  This really
isn't a bad thing.  The longer you go between upgrades, the more
traumatic it is.  Upgrades of software, OS and hardware have to be
part of your plans for any implementation.

As for the how, on the front page of the OpenBSD website is a box
you can type in, and a button labeled "search".  Type "upgrade"
there.  Or go to the FAQ pages, look in the upper left hand corner.
We don't hide it very well. :)

Can you upgrade without rebuilding?  Sure.
Without backups?  You shouldn't do anything without a backup
(it's the unplanned restore we try to avoid the necessity of. :)

Nick.


> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nick Holland [mailto:[email protected]]
> Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 8:04 PM
> To: Regie H. Saberon
> Cc: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: Update or Upgrade?
> 
> Regie H. Saberon wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>>
>>
>> I am new to OBSD and the *nix world, and somehow I have manage to
> build
>> a web, mail and dns server using OBSD 4.1.  I want my machine to be up
>> to date to the new OBSD release which is 4.2. I want to ask from you
>> guys on what would be the best for me? Should I update or upgrade my
>> machine? I'm concern on somehow my machine would be little bit secure.
> 
> We (or at least, *I*, and I write the docs :) have a particular use of
> "upgrade" and "update":
> 
> upgrade: moving between versions
> update:  patching an existing version.  No API or operation changes.
> 
> So, the answer of your question as asked is "upgrade".
> However, I suspect you were not asking about my use of the the words.
> 
> Were you asking about reinstall from scratch vs. upgrade-in-place?
> 
> Normally, I'd say just do an upgrade-in-place, as it is fairly simple,
> however since you make the statement that you "somehow" managed to
> build your system, I'd suggest backing it up and rebuilding it with
> a bit more structure and plan.  Upgrade-in-place maintain any "quirks"
> and flaws in the old system (and the cynic would say, "reinstall gives
> you an opportunity to make new ones" :)
> 
> Nick.