ubuntu security updates

[refux]

Five years ago tried Linux....
Thanks to Ubuntu I'm thinking about trying it again!

From playing around with the live cd and also looking at the security wiki I'm unsure as to how I would recieve security updates.

The wiki page talks about Synaptic and apt-get, these seem to be applications to keep everything up to date.

I don't really want to be constantly updating my install, I'd rather stick with the 6monthly releases. The only reason I'd want to update any code would be for secuity fixes.

Is there a security updater program? Windows and OSX provide just security updates alerts and installs, does Ubuntu provide anything like this?


Also when upgrading from one Ubuntu release to another, is it painless? I just download the release and it will 'magically' upgrade Ubuntu? Or will it be painful.

[Buffalo Soldier]

Synaptic and apt-get is exactly what you're looking for. In fact it's a lot better than MS update thingy. It's installer, and security updater all role into one.

You can set the level of upgrades that you want. If security upgrades is the only thing you're interested, just set it to do security upgrades only.

[refux]

Thanks for your quick reply!

I wonder if anyone would be so kinda as to answer my second question:
When upgrading from one Ubuntu release to another, is it painless? I just download the release and it will 'magically' upgrade Ubuntu? Or will it be painful?

[bored2k]

Painless .

Ubuntu has a text file containing the repository links. Upgrading from one release to another is just changing your text from "warty" to "hoary" [or latest], then clicking on Smart Upgrade on Synaptic [graphic manager] or apt-get dist-upgrade [distribution upgrade] on a shell .

[oracledarren]

I agree, the last version i downloaded was preview 7 and once I had burnt it to disk and reinserted it into the old cd player it recognised there was an older version already on the machine and it gave the option to upgrade from cd :smile:

[occy8]

I was wandering about this too...
I guess a smart way would be to update only security + anything you have problems with + if you see new features that you really want
otherwise it will become a pain if you don't have unlimited downloads or dialup.

I have every couple of days 40 - 70 mb downloads waiting for me if I select all repositories. Is this because Hoary is still in the Pre stage or is it always like this?

[Buffalo Soldier]

I think it's because of Hoary still in preview. I remember when using Warty the security updates weren't that big.

To refux,
Yes, it's pretty painless :)

[occy8]

I think it's because of Hoary still in preview. I remember when using Warty the security updates weren't that big.

Oh no that wasn't all security updates, what I meant to say you need to be careful to select the right stuff. Otherwise you download a lot

[kassetra]

Painless .

Ubuntu has a text file containing the repository links. Upgrading from one release to another is just changing your text from "warty" to "hoary" [or latest], then clicking on Smart Upgrade on Synaptic [graphic manager] or apt-get dist-upgrade [distribution upgrade] on a shell .

I agree, the last version i downloaded was preview 7 and once I had burnt it to disk and reinserted it into the old cd player it recognised there was an older version already on the machine and it gave the option to upgrade from cd :smile:

Those are both great pieces of information to give to any new users. I'm sure this will set a lot of our regular users' minds at ease as well. :)