Redhat 7.2 upgrade/security advice
 

I have a dedicated server at a hosting facility. I have no physical access to it.

I'm using it just for apache, php, and mysql for multiple domains.

Should I be worried about upgrading my kernel or any of my software?

Red Hat Linux 7.2 kernel 2.4.7-10
gcc version 2.96 20000731 (Red Hat Linux 7.2 2.96-112.7.2)
OpenSSH_3.1p1, SSH protocols 1.5/2.0
Apache/1.3.24 mod_ssl/2.8.8 OpenSSL/0.9.6j AuthMySQL/2.20 mod_perl/1.26
MySQL 3.23.49a
PHP Version 4.2.1


I've heard rumors that my version of gcc is bad for compiling mysql. And then I've heard that upgrading gcc creates all kinds of system wide problems.

What should my course of action be? Leave it as is and not worry about it? Upgrade a few things?

Thanks

Re: Redhat 7.2 upgrade/security advice
 

I'd only update what an alert or bugtraq report or linuxsecurity report said was vulnerable.

As I recall though, PHP 5 is out for a reason.

Not what you are looking for, but I would try to update to something that's going to be supported for a while.... Maybe 7.3. Run over to http://www.fedoralegacy.org/ and get your updates. I know its old, but that version is their highest demand for support and they mentioned it looks like it will be supported for a long time. Fedora doesn't have the request for support like 7.3. I still have some 7.3 servers working great. Sooner or later you're going to have to decide..