hi guys

my RH server 5.0 is having some networking issues and I found version 5.3 and 5.4 have some updated versions for my NIC drivers as well as the Bond Channel Driver.

I would to know is it OK going to 5.0 to 5.4? or there is a way to go to 5.1 - 5.2 and 5.3 and 5.4 for security reasons...I don't want my system not workin after updating to the latest 5.4 If I do 5.0 -> 5.4 right away.


is it possible going version by version?
or I can update to 5.4 without any problems just using yum update?

thanks a lot

Hi,

If your using Red Hat Network then is very hard to update to a release level. If your running your own Satellite server then you could create a Software Channel to that release.
It should be safe to upgrade from 5.0 to the latest without problems, we do this a fair bit. Although I would recommend as always a full backup before you start.
Also I would first do a

yum update yum
then do
yum update

Had a few issues where during the upgrade process where yum fails to upgrade itself first.

You can also upgrade only the security items, there is a plugin called yum-security, have a look for a RH KB item about it as another idea.

so let me see If I got this

you say If I try

yum update yum
yum update

only the packages wil be updated but not the release itself?

thanks

yum update yum will first upgrade yum and all its dependancies

Then

yum update will update everything from 5.x to 5.4, so yes this will update the release, it will update your system to the very latest packages available from Redhat.

understood

thanks a lot

yum and satellite will do it but in different ways

thanks a lot

Yum talks to either Red hat Network or Satellite. Satellite is basically an internal Redhat Network Server, but you have more control over it.
Remember backup first!!!

oh I Forgot this
is there a way to only update the NIC drivers and Ethernet Bonding Driver? to the latest

thanks

The bonding driver I think is part of the Kernel, but I could be wrong there. If you have a NIC driver thats not part of the kernel then you will need to download and install that RPM.

yes I think you are right I read somewhere else Bond Driver was part of the kernel...sorry I if ask too many question
when you run yum update kernel will be updated as well right?


drivers
driver: bnx2
version: 1.4.44-1

driver: tg3
version: 3.65-rh

I read there are newer verions don't know yet if drivers are part of the kernel

Unless you have excluded the kernel from your configuration, but by default it does not.
do a rpm -qa |grep kernel before the update and then after and you should see the new kernel installed. Remember that the new kernel does not take affect until you reboot.