Topic: Why a new release (5.5)?

[ryan]

I started using linux with 4.1.2 a little more than a year ago.  I now use 4 SME 5.1.2 servers at work.  I connect 3 offices using IPSEC.  SME has replaced several Microsoft servers...it just out performs Microsoft hands down.  

Now that I have 4 SME 5.1.2 servers in place (plus one at home), upgrading them is something that will take several hours to do.   In addition, I will lose my IPSEC connections.  Why can't Mitel use blades to upgrade the server to 5.5 and NOT disrupt the way it is working at the time?  If not Mitel, can this or other forums make blade compatible upgrades?  It just seems that something significant like going to a newer kernel be reason to release a new full version?  The added features of 5.5 don't seem worth the upgrade effort in my opinion.  I guess I am use to using NT servers that have not changed since 1996, just keep adding the service packs.....

I really enjoy SME and respect the whole Linux GNU idea.  I also want to say THANK YOU to anyone who has posted to this forum....this forum is the reason I was able to learn SME and replace several NT servers.   I can't say enough to compliment the SME server.  I like to be up to date with hardware and software.  It bugs me that I can't use 5.5 until several package rpms are upgraded and posted.  Blades don't kill services like IPSEC, so why aren't the 5.5 improvements offered by blades?

Please reply if you agree or think I am an idiot.

[John E. Myers]

I also think it would be great to have the update installed as a blade. Can this be done?

[Charlie Brady]

ryan wrote:

>  Why can't Mitel use blades to upgrade the
> server to 5.5 and NOT disrupt the way it is working at the
> time?

The differences between 5.1.2 and 5.5 were too great to make this feasible (most packages, and more than 100MB).

And there's no way to upgrade packages which are in use without any disruption. If the old program keeps running, the old program keeps running, and you haven't really upgraded. If you start running the new programs, then obviously you need to first stop the old ones.

>  The added features of 5.5 don't seem
> worth the upgrade effort in my opinion.

That's OK, whether you upgrade or not is entirely your choice.

Charlie

[Rich Lafferty]

One thing I'd add to Charlie's answer is that no matter what *format* the
release was in, it'd still have the same contents -- so if it was possible
to release 5.5 as blades, then the 5.5 blades would have the same effect
on freeswan as the 5.5 upgrade from CD would have.

Cheers,

--Rich