arch servers to update or not to update?

mrjwalsh · 2007-03-12 01:14:43

Hi all,
I'm running two mirrored servers and wanted to know peoples opinions on server updates? Because Arch is updated frequently is it safe to constantly be updating my servers (once a day) or should it be something done like once a month; which might put me at risk to exploits.

Also does everyone update the kernel on their servers? I was thinking of updating one machine before the other just incase of a problem with the updates; opinions? ideas?

mezcal · 2007-03-14 06:35:58

I dont update. My server has been runnig for 2 years without updating. I affraid of it.

T-u-N-i-X · 2007-03-14 16:13:04

Hi,

I just installed a new Arch Linux server. Upgrading to the new kernel (2.6.20..) doesn't work for it while the ethernet card won't work. It works fine with 2.6.19.. I don't know why that happens but I put a line in pacman.conf to ignore kernel updates. I update the server regularly once a week. It works fine.

.:B:. · 2007-03-14 20:42:57

I'm running Arch on my boxes now for a full month - that includes my server. I haven't had any problems up till now, but i did hear some people say the kernel upgrades were flakey though...

I might blacklist those friggin kernels too

mrjwalsh · 2007-03-15 01:23:59

I guess the problem is that you can only black list the kernel for a certain amount of time, if you continued to upgrade the rest sooner or later (probably 1 year +) an upgrade of an app is going to need a higher version of the kernel; I think I might upgrade like every 3 months or something, see how that goes; servers aren't really on the internet anyways.

Stalwart · 2007-03-15 12:54:53

I use arch for both servers and laptop. I upgrade servers when i feel that system on laptop is stable

wroot · 2007-04-10 08:46:40

I'm updating my production server (internal) for two years now. Was using old IBM desktop, PIII 500Mhz, 64MB RAM, so probably there were less chances of hardware incompatibility. Was upgrading everything (kernel and all from current, extra). No GUI, base install, only ssh, iptables, mc, jre, kernel 2.6. I only had problems few times, when going from devfs to udev. But it was major change in system base, so it should cause some problems, especially for me, not an linux/arch expert really And moving to mkinitcpio, had to update my lilo config in a right way. So i dont remember of any problem caused by updates which was not my fault.

High|ander · 2007-04-10 19:44:09

i don't have production server, but my home server i just update when i have the time to fix any problems that might occur when i update. Mostly i update when new version of postgresql, apache or svn comes out(my critial services).

crouse · 2007-04-10 20:55:01

I've ran 2 arch servers for 6-8 months, I update at least once a week, more than likely updating 3-4 times per week. Never had any huge issues myself. When issues do arise, they are usually posted on the main page, and the forums, and solutions are fast in showing up. So far so good for me. However, I always do alot of backups just in case...... good protocol no matter what distro you use imho.

The_Nerd · 2007-04-10 23:21:20

I have a big (2.4TB) file server I run for myself, my family, and a little business I do here and there hosting etc. I usually tend to upgrade my laptop/desktop Arch installs first, and after a 2 or 3 month wait, I'll update the server.

I guess there's really no reason for it, if it ain't broke don't fix it, but I do like having the latest and greatest. A word of caution, I usually wait until I can get physical access to my server in case something goes wrong and I can't ssh. It hasn't happened lately, but back when the arch initscripts were changing often, and then again when the kernel changed from naming hd* to sd* I had a few problems, but things have been smooth since.

Arch Linux

#1 2007-03-12 01:14:43

arch servers to update or not to update?

#2 2007-03-14 06:35:58

Re: arch servers to update or not to update?

#3 2007-03-14 16:13:04

Re: arch servers to update or not to update?

#4 2007-03-14 20:42:57

Re: arch servers to update or not to update?

#5 2007-03-15 01:23:59

Re: arch servers to update or not to update?

#6 2007-03-15 12:54:53

Re: arch servers to update or not to update?

#7 2007-04-10 08:46:40

Re: arch servers to update or not to update?

#8 2007-04-10 19:44:09

Re: arch servers to update or not to update?

#9 2007-04-10 20:55:01

Re: arch servers to update or not to update?

#10 2007-04-10 23:21:20

Re: arch servers to update or not to update?

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