LTS 6.06 and long-term viability

[Kent Borg]

On Wed, Jul 12, 2006 at 10:47:07PM -0600, Collins Richey wrote:
> The question is: are there going to be functional enhancements via the
> Universe or Muliverse repositories that allow the user to keep up with
> new equipment and/or major package improvements?

Mostly, no.  6.06 will get bug fixes.  Depending on the exact
definition of "bug fixes" this might make previously non-working
hardware work.  But the idea of this long life release is to be
something that can be depended upon, so any change that risks breaking
a behavior that someone might be depending on is supposed to wait
until the next release.  (Scheduled for this fall.)

There are two levels of risks here.  Software that is server-like will
be treated more conservatively than user software.  For example, I
heard about a new feature added to Evolution that will be in 6.06.
But don't expect the kernel to change a lot.  Some drivers will be
fixed, and maybe some will be backported, but don't hold your breath.

Mostly, 6.06 is 6.06 and will stay that way.

> I've been told by nVidia personnel that the only kernel that is
> likely to make all the components of this board operate is the very
> latest experimental Fedora Core 5 kernel.

Then I doubt it will be in 6.06 ever.

> Add to this picture the fact that I could not even get an older
> sound card to work. [...] but my oldy-mouldy CentOS (RHEL4
> equivalent) can drive the card just fine!

Sounds like a clear bug.  I don't know whether it is on a fix-list for
6.06.


-kb