apt (IIRC) won't ever update your kernel. Though it might. Updating the kernel on a laptop in debian is a bit tricky, if you're used to other dists, but it's not too hard. Read the make-kpkg stuff.
*I* would use the security updates in any case, but it really depends on where and how you're using your laptop. I move mine all around (I'm a systems admin), take it to colo centers, have it plugged in dmzs, direct attatched to the Net, behind firewalls, and I sometimes even login from work and do stuff there. It certainly can't hurt, even if it's a workstation. Remember, in linux, the real difference between workstation and server is just a matter of what you do with it-- I do apache/python/java development on mine, and so I run lots of 'server' apps, so... it's really up to you. Debian has lots of good things going for it-- its stable is incredibly stable. I have systems that've been running over a year without a problem at all. The testing distro is 'almost-bleeding edge'-- basically the difference between unstable and testing is that unstable is the newest updates, and testing is what's in unstable that hasn't had a blocker bug filed against it, but still could be plenty buggy. What you get out of it is an updated set of packages. For instance: testing has X 4.1 in it, while stable has IIRC X 3.3.6. I use testing for almost, and find it very stable, though of course YMMV. woody is the next release of debian-- the current one is potato, aka stable. woody is the code name for current project that's in testing-- kind of like netapp calling the release of it's 6.1 software guinness, or apple calling their powerbooks 'wallstreet' or 'bronze'. Debian's got a lot of information to amass fairly quickly-- most of these questions are, however, answered in the docs on the site-- youmight want to have a look around-- part of many folks' reasons for running debian are its philosophy, which is also covered. glne -----Original Message----- From: Søren Neigaard [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2001 11:25 AM To: Glen S Mehn; [email protected] Subject: Re[2]: Next step? Thursday, October 11, 2001, 7:39:37 PM, Glen wrote: GSM> a quick guide to apt (there are docs-- install doc-linux-text, and you'll GSM> end up with lots of docs in /usr/share/doc, including a guide to apt, and GSM> dpkg, the debian packaging system) Have looked at it, some more questions :) GSM> apt-get update -- this updates a local database of packages that are GSM> available. This gets the sources from /etc/apt/sources.list. Things you want GSM> inthat file (at least): GSM> the reference to 'security.debian.org' uncommented. This is for security GSM> updates. GSM> a pointer to 'stable' packages Should I uncomment the security line? My machine is a workstation, not a server, is this needed? GSM> you may _or_may_not_ want a pointer to testing packages. If you do, things GSM> are likely to break. But, then, you'll learn more in trying to fix them, so GSM> it's up to you. I need some help here. Do I make a pointer to each package, or to a place where packages can be found? What do you recommend, what do I gain from running testing packages? Would it be smart when it comes to X? GSM> apt-get dist-upgrade-- if you want to update the core system of yours to the GSM> next release (say, potato to woody) What is woody, does this include a new kernel? -- Med venlig hilsen/Best regards, Søren Neigaard mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
