>> >> Ok, looks as though it's time for a manually-installed version of >> >> python to upgrade portage, then a portage-installed python:2.6 to >> >> bootstrap your way towards modernity. >> >> >> >> This is all explained here: >> >> http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/portage/doc/manually-fixing-portage.xml >> >> >> >> This may also help >> >> http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-p-5578709.html >> > >> > That last one mentioned --nodeps which gave me an idea. I did >> > 'emerge -pv python' then emerged all of the packages listed with >> > --nodeps so portage wouldn't complain. Portage wouldn't work after >> > that until I switched back to python:2.5 with eselect. Then I >> > emerged portage to the latest version (which switched back to >> > python:2.6) and I'm hoping I can make some good progress before I >> > come crying back to you guys again. >> > >> > - Grant >> >> I just did a 'ls -ltr /var/log/portage' and this thing hasn't been >> updated in over 3 years. Wow. >> >> - Grant >> > > Honestly, it's not worth trying to update it using portage. Just backup > everything on it and do a re-install. > > Trying to update it will be a recursive process, repeated many times > over, including manually building compatible pythons and dealing with > the inevitable issues that arise. Then you still have the X migration > issues to deal with, you still have to deal with openrc, with massive > pam changes in the last 3 years, and who knows what else. > > So you will slowly and painfully replace many packages outside of > portage to fix this. A reinstall will do the same thing but with much > less personal pain :-) > > If however, you want to do this as a learning exercise then by all means > proceed. You will gain useful knowledge (but I think you already have > that knowledge)
I'm crazy so I updated the thing. It was my first-ever Gentoo install and I guess I've got a soft spot for it. Thanks to --nodeps I didn't have to resort to installing anything outside of portage. I'm 99% done but I lost my connection to the machine and now I can't reconnect: # ssh 1.2.3.4 Password: PTY allocation request failed on channel 0 Thanks to you guys: http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/gentoo/user/206090 I'm pretty sure I need to have the following done when someone is onsite tomorrow: mount -t devpts none /dev/pts If that doesn't work I think I'll try rebooting. Is there anything I should make sure I do before I reboot for the first time since taking this on? It will boot into the same 2.6.25-hardened kernel. I've updated all packages except firefox, mesa, and xorg-server I think, but I don't need X working yet. I've updated /etc/fstab. etc-update is done. One thing I'm shaky about is madwifi. I'll still be relying on madwifi-ng and ath0 for network connectivity until I configure a new kernel with ath5k support. I hope it still works after rebooting into all those updated packages. - Grant
