Re: [cobalt-users] Cobalt, why not using the most actual versions?

["Steven Werby" <steven-lists@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Florian Effenberger <florian.effenberger@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> However, I am interested in why they don't use the most actual
> versions of software on the RaQ3. E.g., Apache 1.3.6 is installed,
> 1.3.12 is the actual version.

The RaQs are marketed as server appliances for web hosting.  If there isn't much
incremental benefit to running Apache 1.3.12 over 1.3.6 for vanilla web hosting
then there's no reason to run the latest version.  Product development on a
server appliance takes months.  If Cobalt upgraded software during the
development phase whenever new versions came out, they would constantly be
integrating the programs with the rest of the programs running on the server and
doing quality testing and they'd never bring a product line to market.  And for
consistency they don't want to sell the same server with different versions of
software on it.  Imagine the support nightmare that would be.

> I am not a version junkie who needs
> every -devX or pre-alpha version, I am happy if it works.
> Nevertheless, I read something about problems and bugs in the old
> version.

Every version of every software package ever released has had bugs.  :-)

> Are these versions too risky to install?

Installing software is not risky at all as long as you have good backups and are
able to undo installs that don't work out.  Upgrading Apache isn't that
difficult in itself.  But it can be difficult to recompile Apache with some
non-standard modules you may currently be running and need.  Like mod_ssl.

> Do we just not need them?

Is your server running?  Does it do what you want?  Then you don't need Apache
1.3.12 unless something you plan on installing requires it.  I install newer
software all of the time, but I only do so 1. for additional functionality that
I need, 2. to plug a security exploit or 3. if the version I'm running is no
longer supported and I need support.

--
Steven Werby {steven-lists@xxxxxxxxxxxx}