Hello,

So I have recently repaired my Debian box that was down for a while. It was running 3.0 testing. I was thinking about rebuilding it with the latest unstable version. Anyone running unstable have any thing to share about their experiences, good or bad? I would like to know...

Japetto

heres what i just went through with debian unstable for what its worth....

i downloaded the netinstall and loaded stable, standard install with kde and gnome...out of the two i use gnome...

when i did dist-upgrade it broke gnome....i tried a few thing but couldnt keep that from happening. i ended up switching to fluxbox which im now in love with and thats fine. i reinstalled with a bare install and loaded fluxbox and x-windows through apt works great nice small foot print n im just apting as i need stuff.

From talking to other users gnome breaking is not a common problem but this is what happened to me.

note tho that u need a 2.6.12 kernel or later to load unstable, this has to do with the dev files system but i cant remember the details.

im using the 2.6.13 kernel custom compiled from source working file. just make sure u install your new kernel BEFORE u try to dist-upgrade

im very pleased with the way my setup turned out and i think ill be sticking with debian for a while now.

i hope this helped a little if you have any speciffic questions feel free to ask

Here is how I did it:

- I downloaded the netinstall and loaded stable, a minimal installation that is, no X, no gnome, no nothing.

- I upgraded my kernel to the latest unstable linux-image-2.6.12-1-k7

- Then I procede on removing unwanted packages (like exim4...)

- I optimized the boot sequence (got rid of hotplug and discover, I already know what's in my box, no need to auto detect)

- Only then I dist-upgraded to unstable wiithout a hitch.

- Once I had a fully unstable base system, I procede to install gnome, x-window-system, firefox and friends.

Don't forget to install apt-listbugs. Some days are better than others for a dist-upgrade. apt-listbugs will tell you this!

I followed a similar procedure to yanik and my system works fine.

Here's some anecdotal evidence so take it for what it's worth.
Ever since Etch came out and Xorg. unstable has been, well, unstable, but only an application or two at a time, after about a week or so (maybe sooner, I don't apt-get update && apt-get upgrade more often), the unpaid programmers who make all this stuff sort out the problems. I've only had one issue that was a showstopper. X wouldn't get off the ground and I had to use dpkg to remove a few of the trouble makers before all was right again. I should note that had I heeded apt-listbugs advice this wouldn't have happened.
I think these issue are normal whenever there are major changes, such as Xorg or gcc gets a version update.
If you're running unstable, apt-listbugs is a must unless you like adventures. When you get bored with debian, try gentoo, the level of control in gentoo is a geek's wet dream. Debian is fine for me thanks.

Thanks, all. I have decided to stick with testing. I have just re-installed it and i'm tweaking now...

japetto

The way I typically do it, is to do a netinstall of stable and then at the aptitude stage on reboot, don't install any package sets - instead, let it finish off the "base" install then go straight to the root prompt - double-check t's updated then update the kernel and manually apt-get X and a wm (sifting through any extra packages at the prompt) - then disable any un-necessary services and sort a packet filter (firewall) out - and then move onto Sid as normal - incidentally, on a recent kdebase-oriented Sid system I chucked in Alioth to get the latest kdebase (and related) with no problems at all strangely enough, although I'm currently using Openbox on my "Unstable" system