Upgrading to newer DSL version

Forum: HD Install
Topic: Upgrading to newer DSL version
started by: mourafa

Posted by mourafa on June 18 2008,06:17

Considering I'm running DSL 4.3 frugal and that I'm a noobie in Linux and DSL, please advise which are the needed steps to upgrade to newer version DSL 4.4.1, also in frugal mode.

"Getting Started with DSL" says it's easy to upgrade from version to version but so far I haven't found the details on how to do it.

Is it likely I just need to copie the newer KNOPPIX file to its appropriate directory, replacing the olders KNOPPIX file?
In this case, do I necessarily need to burn a CD with the newer version? Or is there a way I can extract the KNOPPIX file w/o burning the CD?

EDIT:
"Note that I believe I'm running DSL with restore/persistency and that it seems to be working fine - see below the 3-lines extract from my menu.lst file:

title DSL with mydsl, restore, persistency, hostname, and passwords
kernel /boot/linux24 root=/dev/hda2 quiet vga=normal noacpi noapm noscsi frugal dma restore=hda5 home=hda6 opt=hda5 host=ALBANI dsl mydsl=hda5
initrd /boot/minirt24.gz"

I'll appreciate very much any help or comments on how to do it.

Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on June 18 2008,07:11

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Is it likely I just need to copie the newer KNOPPIX file to its appropriate directory, replacing the olders KNOPPIX file?

That can be the first step (see wiki entry on frugal install). You could also do it other ways (see below), but you'll still mostly likely have to copy over some files in your persistent partitions/backup. (now when I look at it.. why do you have restore home and opt? - though you might have some tailored .filetool.lst to fit your system) You probably won't have to change your minirt or kernel though (afaik 4.x all share the same ones).

Quote

In this case, do I necessarily need to burn a CD with the newer version?

You can run the install script again, or use the cheatcodes from the livecd (tohd etc).

Quote

Or is there a way I can extract the KNOPPIX file w/o burning the CD?

You could mount the iso and manually copy the file over instead. Or use dsl-embedded*.zip. Although if you're doing this with your current install, you'll probably have to boot toram or something to not have that file in use, or copy it over with a different name and edit your bootloader to look for the new image instead (using knoppix_* etc cheatcodes)

There's probably some threads in this forum on this as well, should you want more info (esp. see release notes)

Posted by andrewb on June 18 2008,07:38

All you need to do is download the iso file. Then run the frugal-grub.sh script (or frugal_lilo.sh - I don't think it matters which as you are only upgrading, not installing) . Tell it the partition you currently have DSL installed to (where the KNOPPIX & boot directories are), select the f(ile) option, tell it where the iso file is, select NO when asked if you want to format the target partition. This will then use the downloaded iso file to upgrade your system. This method automates all the mounting of the iso & copying of the files

If you have setting stored by the backup/restore mechanism I'd make a copy of the backup.tar.gz file somewhere before doing this (can be in the same location with a different name). This will mean you have a copy of all your files & settings.

When you reboot it should all be working OK. As some default files (i.e. the addition of the firefox icon to the desktop) may have changed from the previous version it may be easiest to boot the first time with the norestore code (i.e. type dsl norestore at the boot: prompt, or edit your grub entry to add that if you are booting using grub). Once you are booted you can open the backup.tar.gz file (or the copy you made) & copy out of it any personal files or settings you may need. Alternatively boot without the norestore option & copy the files that have changed (see the announcement of the version on the forum) since the version you were using previously from /KNOPPIX/etc/skel.

Posted by mourafa on June 18 2008,21:36

^thehatsrule^ and andrewb, thanks so far!

Quote (^thehatsrule^ @ June 18 2008,04:11)

(now when I look at it.. why do you have restore home and opt? - though you might have some tailored .filetool.lst to fit your system) You probably won't have to change your minirt or kernel though (afaik 4.x all share the same ones).

Actually, I just followed some instructions I found somewhere in the forum on how to get the "restore/persistence" for my frugal install, without really understanding what I was doing.

I am not sure if it is working correctly and I also notice some problems during the boot sequence - I see some warning that some directory or file was prevented from being written.

Anyway, I will also appreciate very much instructions on how to establish the persistence with guidance for when I should (if I ever should) use the "restore" GUI or the RESTORE option on the shutdown procedure.

Thanks a lot in advance for your time and patience with this n00b.