Re: CD-less upgrade (Was: BlueTooth Issues)

[Aaron Konstam <akonstam sbcglobal net>]

<snip>
> > 
> > As I said, it's far easier (... and faster!) to do a fresh install on a
> > spare partition and migrate all the configuration files to the new
> > installation.
> 
> I have to agree with Gilboa here.  An upgrade installs the new packages
> and then removes the old packages, while an install wipes the selected
> filesystems and simply installs into the clean space.
> 
> This solves several nagging problems that can effect an upgraded system.
> 
> As for backup, the minimal set of stuff that really requires a backup
> are: /etc     #Configuration data
>      /var     #spool, www, ftp and such
>      /home    #if not on a separate file system that can be preserved
>      /usr/local   #again, if not on a separate filesystem
> 
> The remaining filesystems that should usually be on mounted sections
> (root, usr, srv, usr, boot) can be wiped/reformatted.
> 
> I will note that the "default" filesystem layout selected by the F8
> installer (anaconda version) is *not* quite as robust as it could be.
> It seems too much like another commercial OS in that it only makes two
> filesystems (boot and root) and crams everything together in root.  This
> requires the user to make full backups at upgrade time.
The above statement is not true. I have only on / filesystem and I back up
/home /root /etc/ and anything else I want to backup using tar before
each upgrade.  This is especially useful when you want to restore your
old home directory in the directory the installed created. Untarring
with the -k option does not overwrite the files already existing in the
directory so the new  versions of the gnome configuration files (for
example) are preserved. 
> At a minimum I recommend three partitions: boot, root and home
> At "best" I use: root, boot, usr, usr/local, home, var, tmp, srv
> 
> There are good reasons for such separation, and there are some standard
> recommendations for sizes, but that is another discussion.
> 
> -- 
> Wolfe
> 
--
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A wise person makes his own decisions, a weak one obeys public opinion.
-- Chinese proverb
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Aaron Konstam telephone: (210) 656-0355 e-mail: akonstam sbcglobal net