Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2006 15:26:02 -0500 From: listvj <listvj@summerhost.net> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Major Version Upgrade 4.11 to 5.x Message-ID: <457DBEDA.6040908@summerhost.net> In-Reply-To: <200612110755.24757.lane@joeandlane.com> References: <457CDE4B.2050103@summerhost.net> <457D063B.2040705@infracaninophile.co.uk> <200612110755.24757.lane@joeandlane.com>
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Lane wrote: > On Monday 11 December 2006 01:18, Matthew Seaman wrote: > >> listvj wrote: >> >>> I'm interested in upgrading from 4.11 to 5.x. I currently track 4.x >>> stable using cvsup, but I've never done a major version upgrade. >>> >>> First, should I bother? My hardware has dual pentium 1.13 processors >>> with 1G ram (I'm considering maxing it out at 4). I host email and web >>> sites for a few domains on this machine and I have four jails configured >>> on it which will have to be upgraded too. I have users counting >>> particularly on mail service not being down for too long. >>> >>> Other than the obvious advice to start with a good backup, can anyone >>> tell me: >>> >>> 1) Will I gain a major benefit from upgrading >>> 2) Where should I look for instructions / advice on upgrading >>> 3) Also any general advice from personal experience. >>> 4) Just how risky is this? >>> >> Uh -- why upgrade to a branch (5.x) that has already had it's last >> release and is worse performing than both 4.x and 6.x? You should >> really be looking at upgrading to 6.2-RELEASE just as soon as it >> comes out (Real Soon Now). >> >> As for risk -- for various reasons you will be better off doing a >> clean install of 6.x and rebuilding your server from the ground up. >> It's no more risky than installing any other server -- unless you >> have some legacy binary-only application that you absolutely have >> to run, it is virtually certain to succeed. >> >> You biggest problem would seem to be the downtime required to do >> the update -- if you can manage it, probably the least consumer >> impact method is building the upgraded system on fresh disks on a >> scratch box, and then finishing the upgrade by a disk-swap. Which >> also has the added benefit that you have a ready-made back out >> path. >> >> Cheers, >> >> Matthew >> > Matthew, > > I agree with your advice to build the new server with a clean install, if only > to prevent any sendmail issues. > > But I'm not so sure I understand your assessment that 5.x is "worse performing > than both 4.x and 6.x." While I agree that 6.x is a great improvement in > functionality over 5.x, I was not aware of the poor performance record of > 5.x. > > Do you know of any links to benchmark tests, or other data, which would > provide some more background on this? > > That kind of data would greatly influence my opinion in this discussion. > Without it I'd be pleased to recommend 5.X, regardless of it's pending "drop > dead" date, wrt support. I certainly see no need to chain myself to any > software release cycle, nor, it seems, does the original poster. I'm in awe > of his patience, and clearly he is satisfied with the product if he remains > on 4.11. > > Thanks, > > lane > ~Still running 5.x > _______________________________________________ > freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions > To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-questions-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" > I'm on 4.11 because I'm lazy and chicken. The server is co-located so it isn't real convenient to do major upgrades. It might actually be easier and more cost effective (in terms of my time) to get a replacement box, set up 6.0 on it, and migrate. Btw, I'm sorry for posting this question twice. I posted the first one with the wrong email address. I was surprised (and disappointed) to see that the list accepted it as I did not subscribe to the list with that address. :(
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