Newbie Question About System Update

[Scott Robbins]

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On Tue, Apr 19, 2005 at 09:36:57PM +0200, K?vesd?n G?bor wrote:
> 
> >This is generally not the case.  Unix lets you continue to access a 
> >file after it has been deleted, so long as the process hangs on to a 
> >file descriptor. This lets you replace programs in use, without 
> >running into the same problems that platforms like Windows have.
> 
> Though this is true, I discourage You to upgrade a running system. I 
> tried to upgarde 5.3-RELEASE to 5-STABLE without booting to single user 
> mode. I simply sent a TERM signal to most of the processes, and tried to 
> make installworld. There was some error messages, the system crashed and 
> didn't boot anymore...

There are a couple of servers that I have to upgrade remotely when
necessary.  They are active during the working day and almost unused at
night--I just make sure the users know to not leave any files (two are
samba servers as well as doing other things) open if I'm planning an
upgrade--I'm fortunate that my users work with me, and there are only
two who have to be reminded, and neither gives me an argument about it.

I'm never happy about doing it that way, but what I do is after the
reboot, shut down the various daemons and do the install world and
mergemaster.  (This is only after testing the builds on a sacrificial
workstation).  

(And of course the obvious--DO NOT shut down the sshd daemon.)  :)  

Ok, everyone who has NEVER ever made that mistake (or locked themself
out with a firewall rule, accidentally putting it into effect before
testing) raise their hand.  :)


- -- 

Scott

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Buffy: I'm gonna give you all a nice, fun, normal evening if I 
have to kill every person on the face of the Earth to do it. 
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