Is it okay to do apt-get upgrade all?

**jdong** · 08-11-2003, 08:44 PM

I just finished a Knoppix HD install. Is it OK update the packages with apt-get? Or will that cause problems? Thanks.

**rickenbacherus** · 08-11-2003, 09:04 PM

You should definitely do apt-get update. That will update the sources list in /etc/apt/sources.list. Realize that this is not the same as apt-get upGRADE. upgrade means- "get the latest packages" and while it's certainly possible it can also cause you a few problems. Check out a how-to on apt-get before proceeding with apt-get upgrade. Open up kpackage and look at what is available for upgrade (indicated by a big 'U') and see if you need to upgrade or not. Unless there is a feature that isn't available in your current version of an application there really isn't any need to upgrade all packages.

**jdong** · 08-11-2003, 09:18 PM

Thank you. I'll do that.

**Doc** · 08-12-2003, 12:41 AM

Any chance of you explaining what dist-upgrade does, please, and how it could cause problems?

Mike (With his Fender

)

**rickenbacherus** · 08-12-2003, 01:51 AM

Originally Posted by Doc

Any chance of you explaining what dist-upgrade does, please, and how it could cause problems?

Mike (With his Fender

)

A dist-upgrade is changing from stable to testing or to unstable. It's just
going to the next level. It's entirely possible to run a complete stable, testing or unstable system. Debian has always made sure that you could rely on stable, testing has always been fine for me and unstable- well I think the name says it all. That's why it takes so long to get packages into stable- they don't put just anything in there. The drawback is that it may take a very long time to get the packages you need/want into stable, so- it is possible to selectively use a mixture of stable, testing and unstable versions. In fact- Knoppix is just that, a mixture of packages.

Here's a thought. If you do this:

apt-get install <packagename> and you have problems thereafter, you more than likely know what the problem is. But if you do this:

apt-get dist-upgrade all you know is that is one or more of several hundreds of packages that you just installed is giving you hell.

Here is an excellent place to learn about apt-get. When you have tools like Kpackage (or my preference Synaptic) it's alot easier but unfortunately not learning the basics about apt-get can get you in a bit of a jamb.

What kind of problems? Just enter apt-get into the search bar above and you'll see. Here's a good example

*pay no attention to the comment about Knoppix and its installer*

Sure- you can do a distribution upgrade and yes it will likely work. Personally I would never instruct someone unfamiliar with apt-get to attempt it without at least reading a bit.

caveat: If you do want to do dist-upgrade there's no time like after a fresh install. OF course, if you at least have /home on a seperate partition you can reinstall if you hose things up that badly and not have to retweak everything. Better yet, use a tool like Mondo to make a backup of your drive before doing anything too drastic.