Scared of "yum update" on old FC4 :-)
 

Hi,

I have a Linux server running, it's on Fedora Core 4.

I'm really more a Linux user than a Linux admin, and so last year I installed FC4 with multiple software packages (cvs, phpMyAdmin, mysql, etc...) to help me with web development.

I realize now that Fedora is a project that evolves fast : I just read that FC5 has just been retired, and FC8 is being developed...

I'm a bit worried that my FC4 installation might be prone to attack, as I haven't been updating it for the past year. For all I know, it might even be compromised as we speak :-)

I thought of using "yum update" to update everything, but I'm really scared that this will make some of my installed software not work anymore.

Should I be scared ?

Also, is there any easy way to make my FC4 installation into an FC6 or FC7 installation without disrupting installed software ?

Thanks...

As far as I can see, the last updates to Fedora Core 4 were about a year ago.

There's never an easy way to upgrade, unless your installation is very unmodified. My preferred way is to backup then do a "clean install" (wipe all partitions and fresh install). That insures that all the new software is installed (not the case with a yum upgrade). Then restore what's necessary and reconfigure any services that are needed.

Linux software doesn't stand still. Sometimes configurations are incompatible. It's the price you pay for access to the newest technology in the shortest time frame.