On 2/19/21 3:45 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 19/02/2021 21.24, DennisG wrote:
On 2/19/21 2:57 AM, Robert Hardy wrote:
I finally got around to the 15.1>15.2 upgrade the other day using the iso image on dvd, and here's a few notes. I'd like to hear what people think. ...
So, comments? I can follow up on my downtime, keeping in mind that it will take time away from watching Netflix! ;-) I've read the other replies, some good advice there. Fwiw (or not), since you asked . . .
I've been using the DVD upgrade method for ~20 years. Same here :-)
I (still) find it the easiest, and agree with the openSUSE documentation that states this is the most "robust" method. Hehe :-) If you refer to the wiki page, I wrote most of that one ;-)
I had a problem wit it one or two versions ago, because it refused to proceed if there was a reiserfs partition in fstab, so I had to switch to zypper dup for this computer. But on the other computers I'm using the DVD.
While most on this list are probably fans of using zypper and that is just fine (I'd also guess most are also intermediate-to-advanced users), IME the DVD is easier/better for resolving hiccups before the user commits to the upgrade. But with either route the user has to understand his/her system and the process very well, if surprises are to be avoided or mitigated. Quite so.
Consequently one practice I borrowed from my enterprise days has been to /always/ perform a proforma upgrade. I keep storage on each machine to which I can copy my production system, test the upgrade process and then exercise the post-upgrade system with a representative suite of tests. The most difficult problems I recall have invariably been with graphics or new hardware. Or with KDE - which I blame on myself for stubbornly continue to use it. :) If I have time, I like to install fresh the new version on a small partition to test it. Then I do a full backup of the target system, then I upgrade it. If it fails, I can find out why and I can repeat from the backup. Or install fresh, knowing that I have a backup with the configs.
IMO it's also very important to clean up one's repositories and current software setup beforehand. Quite correct.
Having many hundreds of files to delete or a load more not making any sense, would move me to look closely first to understand what this means. I'm only using ~150 Packman files, mostly multimedia apps with half the files being the libraries. Maybe you use a lot more from Packman than I do, but I would l want to understand the "whatnot" that you had "not looked further at" before. I do include Packman in my upgrade by switching the repo beforehand and then during the upgrade toggling YaST to include it. Going to 15.2 I got maybe 50 conflicts but nearly all were about version differences for which I just needed to decide which to use; all but a few were recognizable and dispositioned quickly. There are always a few where the dependencies need to be realigned. The ability to load the YaST Software module and work thru these with all its power, ensures that at least the software stack is clean before committing to proceed. I find easier to solve those conflicts with YaST than with zypper.
Each cycle I regularly accumulate about a dozen additional OBS repositories for this or that app or to get a newer version, but all of those I remove and let the upgrade revert the files to the new main repo versions (which typically are as new/newer than the version I had added before). IMO trying to include all these in the upgrade would mean I must have a pain fetish. Good strategy.
No comment on your xfce vs kde issue, except to say I probably wouldn't mix the two and if I did, frankly I would not consider that an openSUSE glitch unless it is a supported function/feature. I have both, but my desktop is XFCE while using some KD tools. Ie, the reverse. No issues.
...
Just one last /personal/ opinion since some suggest that other distros are better at upgrades. I suppose that's entirely possible, maybe even probable. What I do know is that of the ~two dozen distros I've used, I can't offhand recall any with better system mgmt tools. It's not a coincidence that the best are backed by commercial enterprise vendors. And I never saw a shop which did not do a full system test before attempting to upgrade a production system.
--dg Me, I stick with the system I know best ;-)
Thank you, Carlos. And, yes, I thought I saw your fingerprint on that upgrade documentation. My hat is off to you, for all the great work you've done for the community. However, in regard specifically to a certain infamous community member whom we both have, er, enjoyed engaging, I think a general note of recognition falls short: A keg of the finest Northern California craft beer shipped over the pond your way would be much more in order. I hope he's listening. --dg