Upgrading via CLI?
 

Sorry if this is an incredibly dumb question, but I have pretty limited experience with Linux. I plan to get my feet wet configuring a server though, which is where my question comes in:

Is it possible to say upgrade FC2 to FC5 via the command line?

Since I will be renting this server from an existing host I won't be have access to the actual box. So, is there any way to upgrade a distro w/o using a boot install disk?

Thanks for your time.

Strictly speaking it should be possible by configuring YUM properly.
You have to edit /etc/redhat-release tio read "Fedora Core 5 (Bordeaux)".

You can also do a network install, using the install disk on a computer you have access to.
http://www.samspublishing.com/articl...69466&seqNum=2

Yes, it is possible - but probably not recommended. This can be done through the 'yum' utility.

You did not say if this is a virtual host or a physical host you will be renting. Some virtual hosts cannot be upgraded without support from the provider.

Additionally, if you do not have access to the physically machine it is NOT recommended to change the operating system or anything that may block you from accessing it. For example, a simple kernel upgrade (the core of the OS) could throw an error or fail to initialize a piece of hardware and you would have no way of knowing - or fixing it, without support. Some providers will not support anything past what was installed.

I have a FC2 server and it has a support cycle where all security related updates are provided. FC5 is still very new and NOT recommended for production related servers (unless you know what you're doing). You can still learn linux even with an older operating system.

1) I figured it wouldn't be recommended as after all I will really only have access via SSH.

2) Really? That's interesting. I've pretty much always been taught "new version = better" unless it's a tech preview, beta, release candidate, etc. I guess when it comes to Linux older isn't necessarily worse. I just want my server to run well and be able to support the various different applications, compilers, and etc. I will need. Plus I'm kind of worried about finding tutorials and stuff that still apply to an old version... though perhaps less changes than does with say a new version of Windows.

All FC releases should be considered "tech previews". Red Hat only creates them to test things for their "real" OS, RHES.

AFAIK: RedHat dosn't "create" fedora releases. I know RedHat and fedora are joined at the hip but the relationship ain't that causual. The idea is that the fedora project makes fedora and redhat pinch stuff for RHEL (in return for sponsership).
http://www.redhat.com/software/rhelorfedora/

However: fedora should be thought of as a development release. Each release does all the previous stuff better (more reliable, stable etc) and includes other stuff which is better (more cutting-edge and experimental).

For a server, one wants "reliable" over "more recent" (hence Debian stable). So, unless the latest version supports a feature you absolutely must have, always go for older distros for reliability. The bugs will have been mostly worked out. (i.e. FC5 finally gets SELinux going properly, I understand. Though FC4 with updates is supposed to be OK.)

I liked FC4, cant stand FC5. I would also, as above, not reccomend any serious updating, when i updated FC5 last, it blew my iptables rules up, i couldn't SSH or anything into it (infact it would freeze on booting when it hit the rules). I had to plug my monitor in, do interactive boot, not innitiate iptables and sort my rules out.

Not a problem for me, it was on my desk next to me, could be a serious problem for you, especially if support won't cover anything after the install (i would expect them to be providing security updates every week or so).