On Fri, 07 Oct 2005, Redefined Horizons wrote: > I'm still rather new to Linux, and I've been running Debian Sarge for a > couple of months. However, I am eager to try the new features in Gnome 2.12, [...]
> and I remember someone on the list writing that it ships with Sebian Etch. Well, we are undergoing a C++ transition in Sid, which has probably leaked partially into Etch. Depending on which packages already made it into Etch, even the version of the kernel you are running might be an issue. I'd wait a few months more. Still, make sure to have a good backup of all your data and configuration before you upgrade :P > [1] What problems am I likely to encounter running Etch? Is it really Right now? Lots of stuff that won't install and segmentation faults in places where the C++ transition is still botched up in Etch. > [3] I burned all 14 CDs of the Debian Sarge distro. Will I need to download > all of the CDs for the Etch distribution, or can I reuse some of those > package CDs? IMHO don't bother burning more than the first CD or DVD from Debian Stable if you have a good unmettered network connection, unless you need to do offline installs. Debian stable may be a slow target but it gets a lot of updates from security and point releases. Etch and Sid change daily, and a *lot*. Oh, let me warn you: there is no guarantee that the sarge->etch upgrade path is working just right at any given moment except right before a freeze (to release a new stable). Luck is a factor :) Most of the time it IS working, though (it is supposed to work always, but not many people test that path for bugs unless we are freezing). > [4] Do they need more users to test Etch, or will my questions just be a > pain in the neck for developers? We are always happy to have more guinea pigs for Etch, but it is in the best interest of everybody that only people with some experience with breakage and debugging issues try to seriously live with it (they can better deal with the eventual breakages, we get good bug reports). BTW, anyone following Etch or Sid is advised to have apt-listbugs and apt-listchanges installed (and read the changelogs and News apt-listchanges show). They can save you a lot of grief, but you will need to know how to handle the output of apt-listbugs since it reflects Sid and not Etch. Of course, if you just want to try Etch and go back to Sarge (you will have to reinstall, downgrading is not supported at any time and might not work at all) if it doesn't work for you, please go right ahead. -- "One disk to rule them all, One disk to find them. One disk to bring them all and in the darkness grind them. In the Land of Redmond where the shadows lie." -- The Silicon Valley Tarot Henrique Holschuh -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
