ok... I have a few newbie related debian questions...

first... What is the latest release... (see link below) I installed from teh Debian3.0r2 directory... is that current???

http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/dists/

Second, if that is not the "current" release.. how can I update to the current release.. how do switch apt-get over to a current tree

one last thing as well... is there a way to list available packages with apt-get?? for instance I installed webmin via apt-get (it was an old release that ended up upgrading from source with) and I then needed to download some modules associated with it.. users and gourps being one of them... but it never could find it??? is there a way to list the available packages??

thanks
trey

this is not slackware, what you call current would be at least experimental. I also suggest you don't upgrade until you know a little bit more how to use debian. If you upgrade too soon you can and will have problems(broken packages), etc... and you won't know how to solve it by yourself until the debian team decide or have time to solve it. Only stable receive security updates....

I suggest you get more comfortable with debian and linux before, but after all you to what you want.
Go on debian website and read a little bit. you've got manuals, etc..., definition between each debian branch)

Correction, only SID (unstable) does NOT receive security updates. Both woody (stable) and sarge (testing) receive security updates.

thanks souldja but it was intentional...just to frighten a bit. I just think he should stick to stable until he read the proper documentation and know how to use linux well and also debian in case problems occur and they will...

I completely agree, but you shouldn't misinform people. Anyway, sarge is pretty good for package integrity, although the upgrade might kill him. So trey, whatever you do DO NOT upgrade to sid. Everyone wants to be the guy with the bleeding edge programs, but we will have no empathy for you if you upgrade and break your system.

I personally think that if you can master apt, or at least get the basics down, that you could upgrade to sarge. It is practically more stable than most other distributions.

first of all.. the only thing I am running is bind and samba... So if the system breaks with upgrading.. its no big deal...

Is there a way to make the switch?

as i just said read debian manuals . You shouldn't in my opinion ask questions that are online with manuals and details and furthermore at debian web site.
apt-get install apt-howto
man apt-get

if you dont like my questions.. you dont have to answer...

thank you, this reply helped