[ANSWERED] Questions about upgrading to SalixOS Xfce 13.37

[Dennola4]

Hey guys,

first of all I want to say thanks yet again for a wonderful Slack-based OS. I never have any problems. Ever. This said, I would like to know the following:

1) What is the easiest way to determine (preferably from the command line) which version of SalixOS I am using? I originally downloaded 13.1 upon its release, then with updates I'm pretty sure it's 13.1.2, but it would be nice to know conclusively. Typing cat /etc/*version tells me which Slackware version is under the hood, but not which Salix version I'm running on top.

2) I am extremely panicked about upgrading to Xfce 13.3 because I want all of the perks of the Salix upgrade but I really need to keep all of the things on my computer just exactly as they are now. In other words, I am hoping there will be a way to do a one-step upgrade (rather like a rolling upgrade) which will preserve all of the little changes I've made over the past year or so. Is this possible?

Thanks in advance.

- Dennis in New Orleans

[laprjns]

1) What is the easiest way to determine (preferably from the command line) which version of SalixOS I am using?

If you have been keeping up with the 13.1.2 updates then your there.

2) I am extremely panicked about upgrading to Xfce 13.3 because I want all of the perks of the Salix upgrade but I really need to keep all of the things on my computer just exactly as they are now. In other words, I am hoping there will be a way to do a one-step upgrade (rather like a rolling upgrade) which will preserve all of the little changes I've made over the past year or so. Is this possible?

Yes, follow these instructions:
http://www.salixos.org/wiki/index.php/H ... 1_to_13.37
Two area's where you could mess up your settings:

1) Obsolete Packages - Make sure you review the packages that slapt-get indicates will be removed. If there are any packages listed that you want to keep then proceed to removed the unwanted packages by doing a slapt-get --remove package 1 package 2....package n

2) dotnew - Carefully review each configuration file that dotnew wants to update (use the diff options of dotnew) and only replace those that will not effect any customization that you may have done in the past.

[gapan]

Typing cat /etc/*version tells me which Slackware version is under the hood, but not which Salix version I'm running on top.

There's not difference. The slackware version you're running is also the salix version you're running. Salix 13.1.2 is still 13.1.

2) I am extremely panicked about upgrading to Xfce 13.3 because I want all of the perks of the Salix upgrade but I really need to keep all of the things on my computer just exactly as they are now. In other words, I am hoping there will be a way to do a one-step upgrade (rather like a rolling upgrade) which will preserve all of the little changes I've made over the past year or so. Is this possible?

First of all there is no concept of rolling upgrades or one-step upgrades. What laprjns posted is correct. However if as you say you are panicked about upgrading, then simply don't upgrade. You don't have to.

[Dennola4]

Thank you both (Gapan and laprjns) for your responses.

I thought I remembered reading somewhere that the SalixOS version number is the same as that of the Slackware version it is built on. Obviously you just confirmed this.

My anxiety about upgrades is rooted in the idea that a newer SalixOS must be a better SalixOS and therefore if I don't upgrade I will be left behind. Also, I don't completely understand your policy for maintaining older versions. Do they continue to receive updates (Firefox, Pidgin, Java, Flash, etc) or do you only maintain current?

[gapan]

Do they continue to receive updates

They continue to receive security updates. Same as they do from the moment they are released.

[Dennola4]

Got it.

I read the review and it looks great. Sourcery....wow.

I also realized that -- because I keep an identical bootable backup HDD of my system -- I can install SalixOS 13.37 fresh, then use meld diff viewer to quickly find config changes I've made over the past year.

Anyway, thanks for answering my questions.