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Re: up2date - package update dependency

Subject: Re: up2date - package update dependency
From: Ed Wilts
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 07:35:36 -0600
On 1/26/2007 2:43 AM, Aries Star wrote:
We have servers which have not been updated with patches for quite some time (since year 2005). The latest package usually have the following dependancy:

"Before applying this update, make sure all previously released errata
relevant to your system have been applied."

What I didn't mention in my other posting is *why* you need to do this. One of the key reasons is that package foo may have a requirement for say package bar. When you up2date, it will update bar only if bar isn't at the version specificied in the dependency. If the version is okay but is missing some critical security fixes, it won't be updated automatically.

One other key reason to update all of the previously released errata is that the testing for the latest updates is only done against the current versions of the packages. It's totally impractical for Red Hat (or anybody else) to test the latest update of the package you're interested in against all previous permutations of patches on your system. They simply bring the systems up to date and then test against that set.

This is why you should not attempt to pick and choose which updates to apply - even if you think the update may not be relevant to you, you should apply them all. Exceptions may apply to those who really know what they're doing...

        .../Ed

--
Ed Wilts, RHCE, Mounds View, MN, USA
mailto:ewilts@xxxxxxxxxx

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