MEPIS Community Forum

When I downloaded SimplyMEPIS-DVD_11.0.09_64.iso and installed mepis on my computer there were a lot of upgrades. Will mepis go to the next version if I install all the upgrades? Some distros change versions this way.

Regards,

Col. Headers

In the main, no. What you are describing with other distros is known as a rolling release. The updates you're seeing available should be routine Debian security and application updates.

When MEPIS changes versions, usually once every year or so, it is strongly recommended that you back up all your data and install fresh. It is possible to upgrade from one version to the next, but it takes some effort and can be problematic. As long as you don't take any purposeful steps to make it happen, MEPIS won't automatically upgrade versions.

Thanks. I'll replace it with the newer version then. I read some posters here say that the older mepises started out good but they aren't as good any more and they need to be upgraded pronto. What happens over time to make mepis need to be replaced?

You need to do a lot more reading to get where those people are coming from. But basically debian (what Mepis is based on) moves improved more functional software into their Stable section. This is what Mepis is based on. Stable. It's tweaked to the nth degree and uses some software from other parts of debian. But it's basically from the Stable part of debian.
The other parts of debian are Experimental, Unstable, Testing, and of course Stable. Stable has more than one generation of software in it. Currently the latest generation of software in Stable is Squeeze. Though Lenny is just a little older and I've forgotten what the oldest part of Stable is called. But the oldest is about to be put in Archive (I believe).

At any rate the latest Mepis, Mepis 11 is reasonably up to date. And our community here has upgrade paths that, it you absolutely require it, can be upgraded fairly easily. Note that Mepis 11 as it comes is extremely stable and troublefree. For mission-critical work it isn't beaten by anything that's as easy to setup. Period. Adding is not necessary to get work done is what I'm saying.

Some things will change in future releases, Warren explained in a message:

But you can keep on using an older release if you're not hunting for the latest. It will be usable for many years, some are running early versions of Mepis on old hardware. And others prefer kde 3.5 and stay with M 8.
Henry

I want to upgrade mepis completely so I will replace the older version on my computer. The web site has 2 later ones, SimplyMEPIS-1.5G_11.0.12_64.iso and SimplyMEPIS-DVD_11.0.12_64.iso. The 2nd one has more upgrades so I will download that one.

Thank you for the information. I have a lot to learn.

Col. Headers

Right after installation I think you have the same set of installed packages with either one of those 11.0.12 isos.

I would use the smaller iso (SimplyMEPIS-1.5G_11.0.12_64.iso).

The SimplyMEPIS-DVD_11.0.12_64.iso is what's sometimes called the "Big DVD" release. Part of the DVD is setup for use as an offline repo, which is handy if you have a slow internet connection (or no internet connection). The contents of that offline repo will eventually become outdated.

I think most if not all of the difference between M11 11.09 and 11.12 is

The security updates in Debian Squeeze (v. 6.0 vs. 6.0.4)

Firefox 9.0.1 is updated from 4.0.1.

This interests me as well. I was wondering when Wheezy goes Stable in a year or so if Mepis 11 could be dist. upgraded to the then current Debian Stable. I'm guessing it would break things that Mepis adds to Stable?
I'm downloading Mepis 11.0.12 right now. It is taking a couple hours even with high speed internet. Is the repo key thing fixed in this version?
KBD