Purgatory: RH9 -> FC1

[Michael Hipp]

Net Llama! wrote:
> On 12/13/2004 04:18 PM, Michael Hipp wrote:
> 
>> Net Llama! wrote:
>>
>>> On 12/13/2004 02:57 PM, Michael Hipp wrote:
>>>
>>>> Net Llama! wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> No, you setup serial console, or null modem cables between two boxes, 
>>> and then you ssh into one box, and use the serial console to the box 
>>> you're upgrading.
>>
>>
>>
>> Certainly a good way around the problem, but not for the size clients 
>> I'm dealing with. To have an extra box onsite 24x7 for the 
>> once-every-six-months or so upgrade. Not feasible. And not the sort of 
>> burden I would put on the client. They pay me so they don't have to do 
>> such things.
> 
> 
> OK, so what do you do if the box locks up, or you end up with an 
> unbootable kernel, or any other case where you need someone to see 
> what's on the console?

Generally, I get in the car and drive. I would not normally ask the 
client to do my job for me. And most of those boxes don't have a monitor 
nearby anyway.

Besides, emergencies are one thing. But "routine" activity like system 
updates are another. (And since 6-month release intervals seem to be the 
going thing, they have indeed become routine. For better or worse.)

>>> Yea, and debian takes years to release new versions, and are always 
>>> way behind schedule.  have fun with that.
>>
>> But when I wrote "Debian" I was thinking "Ubuntu, Mepis, Xandros, or 
>> Libranet". Or otherwise pronounced as "Debian without the overhead".
> 
> 
> So those are all forking from debian?  I thought you needed more than 
> just debian packages to be a true debian variant.

Not sure I follow you. But yes, those are all Debian derivatives. Not 
sure they qualify as forks, as they all link back to Debian unstable. 
And to my knowledge, they don't particularly add packages as much as 
rebuild them and repackage them with installers and whatnot. (There are 
exceptions like Libranet's Adminmenu that is a true "value add" and not 
available in the Debian repository.)

Sorry for rambling.

Michael