Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: LO 5.2.6 crashes when logging in to mysql with Base - SOLVED

On 07/06/2017 06:41 PM, Virgil Arrington wrote:
> On 07/06/2017 07:32 PM, Girvin Herr wrote:
> > My tests today showed that the latest Slackware Linux kernel security
> > upgrade 4.4.75 kernel is the culprit.
> The upgrade manager on my Linux Mint 18 gives each package update a
> priority level, 1 being the highest and 5 the lowest. The manager then
> checks the upgrades it recommends installing. Since I installed Mint
> nearly a year ago, the kernel upgrades have always been rated 5 and
> never has the upgrade manager recommended that I install a kernel
> upgrade. It also warns that kernel regressions can cause bad things to
> happen. Since my computer is working fine, I have never clicked to
> upgrade my kernel.
>
> Virgil
Virgil,
I take computer security seriously, so when I see a security upgrade is 
available, I usually install it asap. That said, my experience with 
kernel upgrades has not been all that positive. Whenever something 
disastrous has happened, it usually has been after a kernel upgrade. I 
would guess my success rate is about 50% for kernel upgrades - whether I 
screw up the process, like forgetting to run LILO before rebooting, or 
in this case, a compromised kernel package. 50% is not a good success 
rate. Upgrades are risky, so your policy is probably a good one and I 
may assume that same policy from now on. Actually, I did have that 
policy a few years ago, but I got complacent from success and it bit me. 
I will have to revisit it. In general I agree with you - if it ain't 
broke, don't fix it.

Another aspect is that Slackware spends months, if not years, testing 
each new release to be sure it is a well-integrated and working set of 
packages. Updates, or what Slackware calls "patches", are not as fully 
tested because they need to get out fast, especially in the case of 
security patches. So, I doubt they are tested as thoroughly as for the 
distro release. Some "gotchas" are bound to slip through.

Note that what I am talking about are security updates, not non-security 
updates. The latter are totally optional. The former have a certain 
amount of risk if _not_ installed.

Note also that Slackware does not have an automatic update manger. I use 
the Linux security website, linuxsecurity.com ( 
http://www.linuxsecurity.com). The site lists the Slackware security 
updates by date released and then I go to my favorite Slackware mirror 
site, download the packages, check the gpg signatures, and install them. 
I usually do this once a month, just before I do my monthly backup. 
Actually, I install them _after_ the backup, so if something goes really 
badly, I can restore the backup and be where I was before the upgrades. 
Luckily, that has never been the case, but Murphy's law prevails, so I 
continue the policy.

Girvin



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