[olug] Installing multiple linux distros...

[T. J. Brumfield]

Yes, but they only patch what they see as security issues as opposed
to all bugs.

As far as migration goes, we're talking minor updates to packages. The
nice thing about Linux is that you can patch without a full reboot.
Most shops automatically account for patching all Windows boxes are
rebooting them once a month. Yet the idea of trying to update a Linux
box once every six months is considered a major hassle.

-- T. J. Brumfield

On Wed, Aug 5, 2009 at 2:41 PM, adunlop<techworld.mail at gmail.com> wrote:
> RHEL patches security issues rather quickly.  CentOS does as well from
> what I've seen.  The advantage to having older software is that you
> have to update less often.  Fedora may have a 12 month lifespan, but
> with RHEL you have 7 years.  Migrating production servers is a task
> best done at a more leisurely pace than annually :)
>
> Aaron
>
> On Aug 5, 2009, at 2:14 PM, T. J. Brumfield wrote:
>
>>> CentOS is the primary distro I use.  Aside from a glitchy network
>>> driver for the Realtek 8138/8139 integrated NIC on the AMD SB700/770
>>> chipsets I've not had to mess with drivers at all.  That driver
>>> really
>>> isn't CentOS's fault either.  It does run behind on kernel versions
>>> but hey, it's a server distro, stability and long-life wins.  You're
>>> always free to roll your own :)
>>>
>>> Aaron
>>
>> There are those that prefer old versions because they feel old
>> versions are inherently more stable. Others prefer bleeding edge
>> because they feel that they will have the most features, and the
>> latest fixes. Honestly, I'm not sure there is a huge difference in
>> stability between the two unless package maintainers make the effort
>> to backport fixes without backporting new features. There are people
>> who maintain older kernel lines for exactly that reason, but overall
>> even new kernel releases are pretty stable.
>>
>> Most major distros and projects within the Linux-verse implement a
>> feature-freeze before releasing to focus on fixing bugs without adding
>> any features. I'm not sure that intentionally running old versions
>> gives you any benefits.
>>
>> But to each their own. The beauty of Linux is that you're afforded
>> that choice to do as you please.
>>
>> -- T. J. Brumfield
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