"How long does it take to do a dist-upgrade on your distro?"

JaDa · 2008-02-13 16:38:38

Yesterday there was a question in the USALUG.org "How long does it take to do a dist-upgrade on your distro?"
This question was a good question, so I decide to make the ultimate test. I have a lot of computers standing here around, and remembered that on one of them was have already Archlinux installation. I was right, when I booted, the system check said me, that the system was 253 days not checked anymore. I got so excited that I forgot to check was it one of my 0.7.2 Gimmick or 0.8 Voodoo installations.

The Computer
Dell OptiPlex GX110

[jada@arch-02 ~]$ cat /proc/cpuinfo 
processor       : 0 
vendor_id       : GenuineIntel 
cpu family      : 6 
model           : 8 
model name      : Pentium III (Coppermine) 
stepping        : 6 
cpu MHz         : 797.452 
cache size      : 256 KB 
fdiv_bug        : no 
hlt_bug         : no 
f00f_bug        : no 
coma_bug        : no 
fpu             : yes 
fpu_exception   : yes 
cpuid level     : 2 
wp              : yes 
flags           : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat p                                                                                     se36 mmx fxsr sse up 
bogomips        : 1596.45 
clflush size    : 32 

[jada@arch-02 ~]$

I used the following command for the update

$ time pacman -Syu

The Test

first update pacman

[root@arch-02 jada]# pacman -Syu 
warning: current locale is invalid; using default "C" locale 
:: Synchronizing package databases... 
 core                      23.8K   80.0K/s 00:00:00 [#####################] 100% 
 extra                    310.5K  292.3K/s 00:00:01 [#####################] 100% 
 community                341.0K  295.8K/s 00:00:01 [#####################] 100% 
:: Starting full system upgrade... 
:: Replace mktemp with core/coreutils? [Y/n] y 
:: Replace mpg321 with extra/mpg123? [Y/n] y 
warning: bind: forcing upgrade to version 9.4.2-1 
warning: cpufrequtils: forcing upgrade to version 002-3 
warning: dnsutils: forcing upgrade to version 9.4.2-1 
warning: flex: forcing upgrade to version 2.5.33-4 
warning: opera: forcing upgrade to version 9.25-2 

:: pacman has detected a newer version of the "pacman" package. 
:: It is recommended that you allow pacman to upgrade itself 
:: first, then you can re-run the operation with the newer version. 
:: 
:: Upgrade pacman first? [Y/n] y 
resolving dependencies... done. 
looking for inter-conflicts... done. 

Targets: libarchive-2.4.11-1  libdownload-1.3-1  pacman-3.1.1-1 

Total Package Size:   1.19 MB 

Proceed with installation? [Y/n] y 
:: Retrieving packages from core... 
 libarchive               314.8K  253.4K/s 00:00:01 [#####################] 100% 
 libdownload               49.4K   97.9K/s 00:00:01 [#####################] 100% 
 pacman                   855.2K  460.4K/s 00:00:02 [#####################] 100% 
checking package integrity... done. 
cleaning up... done. 
(3/3) checking for file conflicts                   [#####################] 100% 
(1/3) upgrading libarchive                          [#####################] 100% 
(2/3) upgrading libdownload                         [#####################] 100% 
(3/3) upgrading pacman                              [#####################] 100% 
>>> The makepkg.conf syntax has changed, please note the new format 
>>> when merging the pacnew file with your old configuration. 
>>> 
>>> The pacman.conf default file has changed. Please update your 
>>> config to use the single mirrorlist, and any additional files 
>>> in /etc/pacman.d/ (core, extra, etc.) can be deleted. 
>>> 
>>> The location of sync DBs has moved from /var/lib/pacman/ to 
>>> /var/lib/pacman/sync/ for several reasons. To delete older 
>>> DBs, please run pacman -Sc and follow the instructions. 
>>> You will also have to run pacman -Sy to refresh the sync DBs. 
>>> 
>>> abs is no longer included; please install the 'abs' package 
>>> to use abs. You may need to edit abs.conf to re-enable repos. 
[root@arch-02 jada]#

restart pacman 3.1.1 and update the packages

[root@arch-02 jada]# time pacman -Syu 
:: Synchronizing package databases... 
 core                      23.8K   80.3K/s 00:00:00 [#####################] 100% 
 extra                    310.5K  261.1K/s 00:00:01 [#####################] 100% 
 community                341.0K  302.5K/s 00:00:01 [#####################] 100% 
:: Starting full system upgrade... 
:: Replace mktemp with core/coreutils? [Y/n] y 
:: Replace mpg321 with extra/mpg123? [Y/n] y 
warning: bind: forcing upgrade to version 9.4.2-1 
warning: cpufrequtils: forcing upgrade to version 002-3 
warning: dnsutils: forcing upgrade to version 9.4.2-1 
warning: flex: forcing upgrade to version 2.5.33-4 
warning: opera: forcing upgrade to version 9.25-2 
resolving dependencies... 
warning: dependency cycle detected: 
warning: bash will be installed before its glibc dependency 
warning: dependency cycle detected: 
warning: readline will be installed before its glibc dependency 
warning: dependency cycle detected: 
warning: ncurses will be installed before its glibc dependency 
warning: dependency cycle detected: 
warning: db will be installed before its coreutils dependency 
looking for inter-conflicts... 

Remove: mktemp  mpg321 

Total Removed Size:   0.08 MB 

Targets: ncurses-5.6-6  readline-5.2-7  bash-3.2.033-2 
         kernel-headers-2.6.23.1-2  tzdata-2007k-1  glibc-2.7-7  attr-2.4.39-2 
         acl-2.2.45-2  cracklib-2.8.10-5  gcc-libs-4.2.3-3  db-4.6.21-2 
         pam-0.99.9.0-2  shadow-4.0.18.2-2  coreutils-6.10-2  libtool-1.5.26-1 
         mpg123-1.2.0-1  fontconfig-2.5.0-1  zlib-1.2.3-4  libpng-1.2.24-1 
         cairo-1.4.14-1  libtasn1-1.3-1  lzo2-2.02-3  libgpg-error-1.6-1 
         libgcrypt-1.4.0-1.1  opencdk-0.6.6-1  gnutls-2.0.4-1  libcups-1.3.5-1 
         pcre-7.6-2  glib2-2.14.5-1  pango-1.18.4-1  gtk2-2.12.7-1 
         binutils-2.18-5  gmp-4.2.2-2  mpfr-2.3.1-1  gcc-4.2.3-1 
         glproto-1.4.9-1  libgl-7.0.3rc1-1  mesa-7.0.3rc1-1  acroread-8.1.2-1 
         dialog-1.1_20071028-1  pciutils-2.2.8-3  alsa-utils-1.0.15-2 
         e2fsprogs-1.40.4-1  apr-1.2.12-1  gdbm-1.8.3-5  apr-util-1.2.12-1 
         openssl-0.9.8g-2  apache-2.2.8-1  jack-audio-connection-kit-0.109.0-1 
         kde-common-3.5.8-3  libxmu-1.0.4-1  qt3-3.3.8-6.1  arts-1.5.8-2 
         diffutils-2.8.1-5  gawk-3.1.6-2  m4-1.4.10-3  autoconf-2.61-3 
         perl-5.8.8-9  automake-1.10.1-2  filesystem-2007.11-6  avahi-0.6.20-3 
         bftpd-2.1-1  bin86-0.16.17-3  dnsutils-9.4.2-1  bind-9.4.2-1 
         bison-2.3-4  bluez-libs-3.24-1  libusb-0.1.12-3  bluez-utils-3.24-2 
         bridge-utils-1.2-2  bzip2-1.0.4-3  cairomm-1.4.6-1  cmake-2.4.8-1 
         cpio-2.9-3  sysfsutils-2.1.0-4  cpufrequtils-002-3 
         device-mapper-1.02.24-1  popt-1.10.6-3  cryptsetup-1.0.5-5 
         csup-20060318-5  cups-1.3.5-1  curl-7.18.0-1  dbus-qt3-0.62-3 
         dcron-3.2-3  dhcpcd-3.2.0-1  dmapi-2.2.8-3  libxml2-2.6.31-1 
         docbook-xsl-1.73.2-1  dosfstools-2.11-2  dvd+rw-tools-7.0-4  ed-0.8-3 
         enlightenment-0.16.8.11-1  gnome-desktop-2.20.3-1  eog-2.20.4-1 
         libidl2-0.8.10-1  mozilla-common-1.1-2  xulrunner-1.8.1.11-1 
         epiphany-2.20.3-1  eventlog-0.2.5-2  ghostscript-8.61-1 
         gnome-keyring-2.20.3-1  libsasl-2.1.22-5  libldap-2.3.39-2 
         smbclient-3.0.28A-1  gnome-vfs-2.20.1-1  libdjvu-3.5.20-1 
         poppler-0.6.3-1  poppler-glib-0.6.3-1  evince-2.20.2-1  evms-2.5.5-5 
         libsoup-2.2.104-1  evolution-data-server-1.12.3-1  exiv2-0.15-1 
         faad2-2.6-1  grep-2.5.3-3  sed-4.1.5-3  fakeroot-1.9.2-1  fbset-2.1-2 
         file-4.23-1  file-roller-2.20.3-1  findutils-4.2.32-1 
         firefox-2.0.0.12-1  flashplugin-9.0.115.0-2  flex-2.5.33-4 
         font-bitstream-speedo-1.0.0-4  font-misc-ethiopic-1.0.0-4 
         font-misc-meltho-1.0.0-4  freeglut-2.4.0-3  freetype1-1.3.1-4 
         glib-1.2.10-7  gtk-1.2.10-8  imlib-1.9.15-4  libstroke-0.5.1-2 
         fvwm-2.4.20-2  gail-1.20.2-1  gc-7.0-2  gdb-6.7.1-1 
         gtksourceview2-2.0.2-1  libgnomecups-0.2.3-1  libgnomeprint-2.18.3-1 
         libgnomeprintui-2.18.2-1  python-2.5.1-5  pygobject-2.14.1-1 
         pygtk-2.12.1-1  gedit-2.20.4-1  gen-init-cpio-2.6.17-3 
         gettext-0.17-1  librsvg-2.20.0-1  gimp-2.4.4-1  gkrellm-2.3.1-2 
         glibmm-2.14.2-1  gmime-2.2.16-1  gnokii-0.6.22-3 
         gnome-menus-2.20.3-1  libwnck-2.20.3-1  gnome-panel-2.20.3-1 
         gstreamer0.10-0.10.15-1  gstreamer0.10-base-0.10.15-1 
         gstreamer0.10-alsa-0.10.15-1  gucharmap-1.10.2-1  libgtop-2.20.1-1 
         gnome-applets-2.20.1-1  metacity-2.20.2-1  libbeagle-0.3.0-3 
         nautilus-2.20.0-4  gnome-control-center-2.20.3-1 
         gnome-python-2.20.1-1  gnome-python-desktop-2.20.0-3  guile-1.8.3-1 
         gnome-games-2.20.3-1  gnome-power-manager-2.20.2-1 
         tcp_wrappers-7.6-8  gnome-session-2.20.3-1  gtkmm-2.12.3-1 
         gnome-system-monitor-2.20.2-1  vte-0.16.12-1  gnome-terminal-2.18.4-1 
         gnome-utils-2.20.0.1-2  gnupg-1.4.8-1  libassuan-1.0.4-1 
         gnupg2-2.0.8-1  gpgme-1.1.6-1  gpm-1.20.1-7  groff-1.19.2-4 
         grub-0.97-9  gstreamer0.10-cdparanoia-0.10.15-1 
         gstreamer0.10-gnomevfs-0.10.15-1  gstreamer0.10-ogg-0.10.15-1 
         gstreamer0.10-vorbis-0.10.15-1  gtkhtml-3.16.3-1  gutenprint-5.0.2-1 
         vi-7.1.228-1  vim-7.1.228-1  gvim-7.1.228-1  gzip-1.3.12-4 
         hal-info-0.20071212-1  hdparm-7.7-3  usbutils-0.73-5  wget-1.11-1 
         hwd-5.3.2-1  hwdetect-0.9-1  icewm-1.2.35-1  ifenslave-1.1.0-3 
         imagemagick-6.3.8.0-1  intltool-0.37.0-1  iproute-070710-3 
         iptables-1.3.8-2  iputils-20070202-4  isdn4k-utils-3.2p1-3 
         jfsutils-1.1.12-2  jre-6u3-2  kbd-1.12.20070827-2  kdelibs-3.5.8-4 
         lm_sensors-3.0.1-1  xorg-xauth-1.0.2-1  kdebase-3.5.8-3 
         qscintilla-qt3-1.7.1-2  kdebindings-3.5.8-2  libgphoto2-2.4.0-4 
         poppler-qt3-0.6.3-1  kdegraphics-3.5.8-3  sqlite3-3.5.6-1 
         libopensync-0.34-1  kdepim-3.5.8-2  klibc-1.5-3  klibc-extras-2.3-1 
         klibc-udev-116-2  klibc-module-init-tools-3.2.2-1 
         mkinitcpio-0.5.17-2  module-init-tools-3.2.2-5  kernel26-2.6.24.1-2 
         less-418-1  lftp-3.6.3-1  libao-0.8.8-2  orbit2-2.14.12-1 
         libbonobo-2.20.3-1  libcdio-0.79-1  libelf-0.8.10-3  libevent-1.3d-2 
         libgdiplus-1.2.6-1  libmikmod-3.1.12-1  libmysqlclient-5.0.51-2 
         libpcap-0.9.8-2  libsamplerate-0.1.2-4  libtar-1.2.11-3 
         libxfont-1.3.1-2  licenses-2.3-1  lilo-22.8-2  links-2.1pre33-1 
         logrotate-3.7.5-1  lua-5.1.3-1  lvm2-2.02.33-1  mailx-8.1.1-5 
         make-3.81-3  man-1.6f-2  man-pages-2.77-1  mdadm-2.6.4-1 
         mono-1.2.6-1  mutt-1.5.17-4  mysql-clients-5.0.51-3  mysql-5.0.51-3 
         nano-2.0.7-1  net-tools-1.60-13  netkit-ftp-0.17-4 
         netkit-telnet-0.17-7  nfsidmap-0.20-2  portmap-6.0-2 
         nfs-utils-1.1.0-3  ngrep-1.45-4  nmap-4.53-1  ntp-4.2.4p4-4 
         openssh-4.7p1-6  openvpn-2.0.9-3  opera-9.25-2  orca-2.20.3-1 
         patch-2.5.4-4  pcmciautils-014-3  php-5.2.5-3  pilot-link-0.12.3-1 
         pine-4.64-4  pkgconfig-0.22-3  procps-3.2.7-4  libx86-0.99-1 
         vbetool-1.0-2  pm-utils-0.99.4-1  qt-4.3.3-4  poppler-qt-0.6.3-1 
         postgresql-libs-8.2.6-1  postgresql-8.2.6-1  ppp-2.4.4-6 
         procinfo-19-2  psmisc-22.6-1  qca-2.0.0.svn744387-1.1  qca-qt3-1.0-1 
         qca-tls-1.0-5  qscintilla-2.1-3  reiserfsprogs-3.6.20-3 
         rp-pppoe-3.8-2  rsync-2.6.9-4  samba-3.0.28A-1  screen-4.0.3-5 
         seahorse-2.20.3-1  shared-mime-info-0.23-1  sudo-1.6.9p12-1 
         sysklogd-1.5-1  syslog-ng-2.0.6-1  util-linux-ng-2.13.0.1-2 
         sysvinit-2.86-4  taglib-1.4.0.svn744384-1  tar-1.19-2  tcl-8.5.1-1 
         tcpdump-3.9.8-1  tcsh-6.15.01-1  thunderbird-2.0.0.9-2  tk-8.5.1-1 
         totem-plparser-2.21.91-1  totem-2.20.1-3  ttf-dejavu-2.23-1 
         udev-116-3  unichrome-dri-7.0.3rc1-1  unzip-5.52-3 
         vorbis-tools-1.1.1-7  which-2.19-2  whois-4.7.24-1 
         wireless_tools-29-2  wireshark-0.99.7-1  wpa_supplicant-0.5.9-1 
         xaw3d-1.5-4  xchat-2.8.4-2  xf86-input-evdev-1.2.0-1 
         xf86-input-joystick-1.3.1-1  xf86-video-ati-6.7.197-2 
         xf86-video-mga-1.9.100-2  xf86-video-nv-2.1.7-1 
         xf86-video-s3virge-1.9.1-9  xf86-video-savage-2.1.3-2 
         xf86-video-sis-0.9.4-2  xfsprogs-2.9.4-2  xfsdump-2.2.46-3 
         wavpack-4.41.0-3  xine-lib-1.1.10-1  xinetd-2.3.14-3 
         xkeyboard-config-1.1-1  xmms-1.2.11-1  xorg-server-1.4.0.90-6 
         xorg-xinit-1.0.7-3  xscreensaver-5.04-2  yelp-2.20.0-3 
         zenity-2.20.1-1 

Total Download Size:    743.90 MB 
Total Installed Size:   748.87 MB 

Proceed with installation? [Y/n] 
Proceed with installation? [Y/n] y 
:: Retrieving packages from core... 
 ncurses-5.6-6-i686      1738.2K  518.0K/s 00:00:03 [#####################] 100% 
 readline-5.2-7-i686      271.5K  228.3K/s 00:00:01 [#####################] 100% 
 bash-3.2.033-2-i686      407.1K  299.1K/s 00:00:01 [#####################] 100% 
 kernel-headers-2.6.2...  621.6K  376.8K/s 00:00:02 [#####################] 100% 
 tzdata-2007k-1-i686      610.7K  329.0K/s 00:00:02 [#####################] 100% 


 xorg-server-1.4.0.90...    7.4M  659.0K/s 00:00:11 [#####################] 100% 
 xorg-xinit-1.0.7-3-i686   14.4K   56.9K/s 00:00:00 [#####################] 100% 
 xscreensaver-5.04-2-...    8.0M  655.2K/s 00:00:13 [#####################] 100% 
 yelp-2.20.0-3-i686       603.4K  356.7K/s 00:00:02 [#####################] 100% 
 zenity-2.20.1-1-i686    1896.3K  546.6K/s 00:00:03 [#####################] 100% 
:: Retrieving packages from community... 
 freetype1-1.3.1-4        119.9K  129.5K/s 00:00:01 [#####################] 100% 
 gkrellm-2.3.1-2          724.3K  411.1K/s 00:00:02 [#####################] 100% 
 xmms-1.2.11-1           1945.1K  557.0K/s 00:00:03 [#####################] 100% 
checking package integrity... 
(349/349) checking for file conflicts               [#####################] 100% 
(  1/349) upgrading ncurses                         [#####################] 100% 
(  2/349) upgrading readline                        [#####################] 100% 
(  3/349) upgrading bash                            [#####################] 100% 
(  4/349) upgrading kernel-headers                  [#####################] 100% 
(  5/349) upgrading tzdata                          [#####################] 100% 
(  6/349) upgrading glibc                           [#####################] 100% 


(340/349) installing wavpack                        [#####################] 100% 
(341/349) upgrading xine-lib                        [#####################] 100% 
(342/349) upgrading xinetd                          [#####################] 100% 
(343/349) upgrading xkeyboard-config                [#####################] 100% 
(344/349) upgrading xmms                            [#####################] 100% 
(345/349) upgrading xorg-server                     [#####################] 100% 
:: Could not detect nvidia-utils on system 
:: Will attempt to use built-in libwfb 
(346/349) upgrading xorg-xinit                      [#####################] 100% 
(347/349) upgrading xscreensaver                    [#####################] 100% 
(348/349) upgrading yelp                            [#####################] 100% 
(349/349) upgrading zenity                          [#####################] 100% 

real    56m46.062s 
user    4m25.013s 
sys     1m46.520s
[root@arch-02 jada]#

And for your tread question.
How long does it take to do a dist-upgrade on your distro?

one hour

real 56m46.062s
user 4m25.013s
sys 1m46.520s

After reboot the system loads all new applications with out any problem. Later I replaced the intel-video driver "xf86-video-i810 1.7.4-6" with the driver xf86-video-intel 2.2.0-2. No problems at all.

Archlinux rocks

skottish · 2008-02-13 16:53:31

This is a funny thread. I was at a friend house and we were simultaneously installing Arch on one machine and Fedora on another. The Arch install was themed with every desired package installed long before Fedora had the base install up!

slackhack · 2008-02-13 16:59:10

JaDa wrote:

Archlinux rocks

definitely. By contrast, here's a regular upgrade on my debian box -- out of the blue it's having some problem with one of the packages, and it's turning into a regular recursive nightmare.

root@moe:~ # apt-get upgrade
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these.
The following packages have unmet dependencies.
E: Unmet dependencies. Try using -f.
root@moe:~ # apt-get -f install
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Correcting dependencies...Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
  exim4-base exim4-daemon-light
Suggested packages:
  exim4-doc-html exim4-doc-info eximon4 libmail-spf-query-perl
The following packages will be upgraded:
  exim4-base exim4-daemon-light
2 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 64 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0B/1391kB of archives.
After unpacking 8192B of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? 
Preconfiguring packages ...
dpkg: exim4-daemon-light: dependency problems, but removing anyway as you request:
 exim4 depends on exim4-daemon-light | exim4-daemon-heavy | exim4-daemon-custom; however:
  Package exim4-daemon-light is to be removed.
  Package exim4-daemon-heavy is not installed.
  Package exim4-daemon-custom is not installed.
dpkg: error processing exim4-daemon-light (--remove):
 Package is in a very bad inconsistent state - you should
 reinstall it before attempting a removal.
Errors were encountered while processing:
 exim4-daemon-light
[ Rootkit Hunter version 1.3.0 ]
File updated: searched for 152 files, found 131
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
root@moe:~ # apt-get install exim4-daemon-light
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these:
The following packages have unmet dependencies.
  exim4-daemon-light: Depends: exim4-base (>= 4.69) but 4.68-2 is to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).
root@moe:~ #

It's so "delicate" and temperamental compared to the no-nonsense, straightforward approach of Arch. If one little thing is off, the entire system has a hissy-fit and won't do anything until you hunt the internet high and low searching for a solution, encountering all the debian hawks along the way who are ready to rip your head off at the first suggestion that debian isn't directly from god and could have a problem. Imo, Arch is the best linx distro hands down. Nothing else even comes close.

sweiss · 2008-02-13 18:39:24

Does that really surprise you?
We use Arch because it is the best, obviously

jdhore · 2008-02-13 18:59:48

Usually, on my 2.4GhZ P4 laptop, to upgrade Debian or Ubuntu...It takes about 45 minutes to download all the packages and then AT LEAST another 45 minutes to install them all...and this was even after a massive patch to dpkg in 2003 that made every dpkg operation about 300% faster.

TontonBizar · 2008-02-13 22:36:14

I'd like to mention that because Arch is a rolling release, every times we do 'pacman -Syu' we are just doing a dist-upgrade. So sometimes it's less than a minute and sometimes more : but in the end, we are always up to date! And fast...

Arkane · 2008-02-18 16:48:31

TontonBizar wrote:

I'd like to mention that because Arch is a rolling release, every times we do 'pacman -Syu' we are just doing a dist-upgrade. So sometimes it's less than a minute and sometimes more : but in the end, we are always up to date! And fast...

[OT]AND it's like Christmas everyday . That's what I love about Arch.[/OT]

Arch Linux

#1 2008-02-13 16:38:38

"How long does it take to do a dist-upgrade on your distro?"

#2 2008-02-13 16:53:31

Re: "How long does it take to do a dist-upgrade on your distro?"

#3 2008-02-13 16:59:10

Re: "How long does it take to do a dist-upgrade on your distro?"

#4 2008-02-13 18:39:24

Re: "How long does it take to do a dist-upgrade on your distro?"

#5 2008-02-13 18:59:48

Re: "How long does it take to do a dist-upgrade on your distro?"

#6 2008-02-13 22:36:14

Re: "How long does it take to do a dist-upgrade on your distro?"

#7 2008-02-18 16:48:31

Re: "How long does it take to do a dist-upgrade on your distro?"

Board footer