Microsoft Word Hardware Reconfiguration Methodology V final2

Upgrades

Upgrades impose newer versions of software on the system. Due to the modular nature of Linux this is generally not an issue. However, existing software that is overwritten by newer software can have far-reaching consequences. These changes could affect a variety of applications and libraries alike. This can introduce interoperability-based issues that are not easily diagnosed or fixed. Furthermore, it is also possible that user preferences and system-wide configurations will require re-examination after an upgrade as these too many have changed. Another issue of concern with upgrades is that certain applications may no longer be supported by either the distribution’s maintainer or even by the open source community (in which case support and upgrades are no longer available), or both. In either case, when support for an application is dropped, extra work will be required on the part of the system administrator. If both forms of support are gone, then the application will have to be maintained by the organization itself through various support strategies [2].

Upgrades are generally far more wide reaching in terms of potential consequences than updates. Upgrades generally infer that the system’s applications, libraries, kernel, and other important subsystems are to be replaced by newer equivalents that may or may not be radically different from their predecessors. Updates on the other hand tend to cause minimal system changes that often represent little to no discernable impact for both the users (and their applications) and system administrator.

Upgrades, in the sense used throughout this text are indicative of an installation program developed by the distribution’s maintainer that are intentionally designed and used for upgrading the operating system. Furthermore, upgrades can require a great deal of time to reaccredit and recertify since upgrades generally impact the entire operating system and not just portions of it, as is the case for most updates. Finally, upgrades are performed for a variety of reasons; sometimes to achieve the next level of functionality or sometimes simply because updates are no longer available for a specific version of an operating system.

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