Re: downloading and installing updates...

[Denice <deatrich lcavsun1 epfl ch>]

On Fri, 17 Sep 1999, Robert Landry wrote:

> I went to see RedHat 6.0 "updates" and "patches"... Wow, what a mess...

You should see some other operating systems' patch repositories if you
want to see a 'mess'...

> What's important there, and which files should I download, where, how, and
> how do I install it without heading for my 15th install ??... :-)

:-O  Yes, there are a few of them..


If you have the bandwidth (sorry internet), download them all except the
kernel ones, and then just do:

  rpm -UvhF *.rpm   

The '-F' option causes only those rpms that are already installed to be
'freshened'.

Always be careful about applying the kernel rpms; you should always check
the recommended procedure before applying kernel patches.

If your machine(s) are of the stand-alone variety that are infrequently
connected to the internet then you will probably be happy to only ever
patch things that you think need fixing.  However, if you are a permanent
target on the internet, then you better follow the errata religiously! 

I guess some of us are lucky enough to have an NFS-mounted mirror near by,
so the patches are always available and current..

I *never* apply patches to production machines unless I have tested them
first on a less important machine (usually my poor old desktop).  Of
course, I have the same policy for all supported operating systems -- this
is not a linux-specific policy.

-- 
denice.deatrich @ NospaM.epfl.ch, EPFL - LCAV / LCM    PH: +41 (21) 693-5643
                  (If replying by email please remove 'NospaM' from address.)
<*> This moment's fortune cookie:
All your files have been destroyed (sorry).  Paul.