We run a number of rh 7.2 servers. As of today you can get a 2.4.20x kernel. As long as the version has a current kernel and still runs the required apps why would you upgrade?

Thanks

Well, its like you said. If you find an application that needs a more current kernel then you are forced to upgrade.

Look at the URL's :

"http://www.redhat.com/apps/support/errata/"
"https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/rh72-errata.html"

If your Red Hat server is not directly connected to the internet, then you may not be interested very much in having all the security updates available.

But then again, if you _are_ somehow connected to the internet it is wise to have some security updated kernels. It all depends on the policy of the company you work, however.

Sometimes, it can be interesting to have a newer kernel available, as it may bring new features which may be useful in some way or another :

https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHEA-2002-082.html

And sometimes, an updated kernel can bring stability enhancements, especially for servers, which need to have high uptimes.

one more thing is diffrence between 7.2 and 9 is the software versions if upgrade them all via hand you have no problem infect you will have a more recent system them 9.0

Hmm ... I re-read your question ...

Upgrading a server (or not to upgrade) to a newer version is completely your own responsibility. However, a company like Red Hat also offers nowadays Enterprise versions of Red Hat Linux:

http://www.redhat.com/enterprise

The main advantage of these versions is support. Support for these versions is 5 years for a customer with a support contract.

The other advantage of these versions is that companies like Dell, IBM and HP are very active in the beta-testing and hardware support (think SCSI drivers, RAID controller drivers, high-availability solutions, etc...) of these versions.

If you are willing to go with non-enterprise versions of Linux, and your management is _willing_ to take _those_ risks (try to get written permission to use a non-enterprise version of Linux, so they (management) cannot put the blame on you when things go wrong. Management always wants the cheapest solution, but must be _willing_ to take the risks and disadvantages than come with these kind of decisions).

I hope this answers your question a bit...

Security, features and bugs.

If you aren't concerned with security (which EVERYONE should be, not just us paranoid geeks) then just bugs. If everything you use runs fine, and as you expect, and everything you install/upgrade does as well, then there really is no reason other than features.

Newer versions of applications usually contain an increasing number of features. If your application is missing a feature, and it comes out in a newer version, then you will upgrade. If this upgrade causes other things to be upgraded, you then decide if this upgrade is worth the work of upgrading several (maybe even hundreds) of working applications.

Older=secure=more tests, but also means outdated, less supported, less features.



Cool

Thanks all for your interesting responces.

I appreciate all of the insight.

Tom