Is it fine to use an old OpenSuse?

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#1

I have an old thinkpad T43 laptop and I found Opensuse 10.3 is the BEST distro for it, not even 11.0+, all hardwares are detected and usable, everything, from modern to volumn control(show in KDE volume control icon as well), to suspend/resume and speaker/mic, not to mention finger print reader.

Later Opensuse versions have more or less a few problems, I also tried other distros but without luck.

So my question is, is it fine to stick to an old version even it is not supported any more? In terms of stability, security, usability…

Thanks!

#2

hzxu wrote:
> So my question is, is it fine to stick to an old version even it is not
> supported any more? In terms of stability, security, usability…

depends on who you ask!

if you get an answer from someone who can’t breath if they don’t have
the very latest of everything, you will get one answer…

if you ask someone who is overly paranoid and runs ClamAV even though
it is not necessary, you will get a different answer…

but, if you ask me, you will get still another! (see sig for what i
run everyday: stable, dependable, well known [by me], usable and
secure enough–FAR more secure than the latest and greatest from
Redmond–with the BEST AV known to earth, for sure)…

just be sure and exercise due caution (i run a router/firewall, have
all like ftpd, sshd, etc off and removed from system, and i don’t go
around the net downloading everything i can find and “double-clicking”
on it, or even trying to ‘install’ it, stuff like that)…

there was guy/gal here last week running SuSE 8.x (still not cracked
and not likely to be)…

obviously, ymmv.

–
DenverD (Linux Counter 282315)
CAVEAT: http://is.gd/bpoMD
posted via NNTP w/TBird 2.0.0.23 | KDE 3.5.7 | openSUSE 10.3
2.6.22.19-0.4-default SMP i686
AMD Athlon 1 GB RAM | GeForce FX 5500 | ASRock K8Upgrade-760GX |
CMedia 9761 AC’97 Audio

#3

Three things to consider:
First: 10.3 is no longer officially supported, i.e. no updates, patches etc anymore.
Second: Why would you replace 10.3, if it works for you. The only thing you may not know off is security, the other 2 appear to be covered for you. Like DenverD says, security is up to you.
Third thing you’d have to ask yourself: Do I want to stay up-to-date on desktop experience (you may miss a lot of improvement on 10.3), kernel etc.

This does not help you very much, I know. For me the fact that 10.3 is no longer supported counts most. I’d rather install 11.2 and get help here to overcome the issues.

#4

One of my favourite IT-mottos: security is not a condition, it’s a principle. There are reasons why Linux is considered to be secure system, one of the major reasons is that it is updated regularly and systemwide (if used as intended). This is not possible with a system that is not supported with updates anymore, so security holes would have to be accepted. I personally could not accept that.

#5

That says it all. But it doesn’t mean people running 10.3 are insecure (which you did not say…)

#6

. Stability: nothing is more stable then a system where there are no more changes;
. Security: see the others, a good firewall in a router and’ do not run what you do not need’ makes it allready very save;
. Usabilaty: it will be as usable as it is now when you do not change it, when you are satisfied, then you will be satisfied until you stumble in something you want to “have also” ;).

#7

That says it all. But it doesn’t mean people running 10.3 are insecure (which you did not say…)[/QUOTE]

Um… but actually I meant it. Possibly insecure at least - look at the security fixes since 10.3 went out of support and you see what I mean; a 10.3 still running is missing dozens, maybe hundreds of security fixes (depending on the packages installed). This is not to say that I think that a successful attack on a 10.3 is even likely, but in security chances are not really an issue. Either a system is up to date or it is not, what comes next may vary any time.

Edit: let’s put it like this - the more people would run an outdated Linux, the more interesting Linux is as a target for attacks.

#8

I agree that you should try to get it running with a recent distro. A search shows that many people have been running Linux on it so you should endeavour to get your problems with 11.2 solved. Perhaps you need a lighter variant due the 512MB RAM.

Linux on IBM Laptops & Notebooks (Thinkpads)

If you insist on running an old distro, at least install the latest versions of your web browser and plugins. If you can’t get FF to install on it due to old libraries, try Chrome or Opera.

#9

If you do not have important things on your laptop and you do not use a lot Internet with flash and other gadgets, it is quite OK to use an old version.
However, there is no way out of it, if you want to hold alive this notebook, then, on the long run you should consider to change desktop and probably distribution.
For very old PCs you should take into account the following distributions that might fit you better then a heavy and full blown KDE or Gnome Desktop:
**- DSL linux

They are all very light and should run where the newer versions won’t. It may well be that the require much more hassle to get it work.

If security is important, you do not want to change distribution and you laptop doesn’t make it:

…buy a new one.:expressionless:

#10

Thanks for all your reply!

I noticed that many servers running Linux usually have old version or even ancient versions of systems/softwares, why is that? For example, debian has branches “stable”, “unstable” and “testing”, the “stable” one has oldest softwares among the three but it is named “stable”, does this conflict with some of your statements?

Thanks!

#11

the “stable” one has oldest softwares among the three but it is named “stable”, does this conflict with some of your statements?

No, because the stable branch is still supported (with security updates etc).

#12

No, actually it doesn’t. **Stable: **software that is maintained for professional use, it does not offer new functionalities, but is quite bullet proof. Stable does however NOT mean unmaintained. The stable version receive regular updates and care.

As well stable does not mean *old. *When software gets old it is labeled generally “deprecated”. In this moment you know that there is either a program that has substituted the latter or that the software in use is considered obsolete due to technological progress.

Unstable are the versions that are testing versions. If you want to think like a steak, the STABLE part is well done, the unstable part is quite raw, and the testing one is the bleeding etch of our steak.

OpenSuse is a bit more complicated in structure. Bear in mind that Novell is a for profit company that makes its revenue with services provided to the paying (!) customers.
The OpenSuse project is a sponsored project and there is as we know from economics “no free lunch”. So what does OpenSuse give back to Novel?
Let’s say that stable in OpenSuse is a bit more unstable because the new version offers all the necessary features (and maybe also the non necessary).

As fixes go on, the confirmed and very stable versions flow into the **SLED (Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop). ** If you wish professional stability and need to comply to enterprise wide homogeneity of install you may opt for this version and pay in order to receive also professional assistance. OpenSuse is able to offer this too, but it requires from you much more professional capacity if you want to run it in such an environment.

All distributions have different business models. Redhat had Fedora as a free distribution, Mandriva has Mandriva One as free distribution in order to attract new potential paying clients.
You referred to Debian, this is a very influential distribution and maybe a kind of social project. You shall read this link about Debian to get a more in depth understanding about the structure (that is complex). Also Debian has given origin to a similar “bleeding edge” and “well done structure”. Ubuntu is for example “derived” from the base of Debian. A lot of other distributions too.

All this to clear your mind about a few things:

a) as long as your operating system is maintained it is safe. Once it is unmaintained, either you have the professional quality to apply all necessary security fixes and read all the bulletins (which would get IMHO a hilarious opportunity cost) or you update to a

b) maintained version of the same distribution. Maintained means that you have repositories that are cared for by professionals and where you can be sure to find working (at least in 99% of the cases lol! ) fixes and new software.

c) you may change distribution if one is not compliant with your hardware. Other distributions may use “old” kernels but that does not mean “unmaintained” it means simply they use an old and light version for being applicable on old IT material. These old kernels are not deprecated either. They are just the well done part of the steak.

d) deprecated / unmaintained is in our picture a half eaten, rotten piece of meat that stinks and have worms all over. At the beginning of course it smells only a bit and may have no worms. You decide when the “taste” gets too smelly. But this is a personal decision. By itself you know from what we said above what you risk.

Hope that makes your view a bit clearer, and that you will enjoy our medium-stage, tasty OpenSuse steak. :wink:

#13

In terms of stability it likely is a GREAT idea if you have been using 10.3 for a while.

But in terms of secruity and usability, I would have to say no. You no longer get security patches. You no longer get the latest and greatest updates (and new) 3rd party applications.

I recommend you download the latest liveCDs for openSUSE (either 11.2 or an 11.3 milestone) and do NOT install, but rather run them. And write bug reports on parts that do not work. You are investing in the future support for your laptop by writing (and supporting the resolution to fix) with these bug reports. If your Thinkpad has insufficient memory for this liveCD investigation approach, then the approach won’t work.

#14

On Tue, 25 May 2010 09:46:01 GMT, Knurpht
<Knurpht@no-mx.forums.opensuse.org> wrote:

>
>hzxu;2168936 Wrote:
>> I have an old thinkpad T43 laptop and I found Opensuse 10.3 is the BEST
>> distro for it, not even 11.0+, all hardwares are detected and usable,
>> everything, from modern to volumn control(show in KDE volume control
>> icon as well), to suspend/resume and speaker/mic, not to mention finger
>> print reader.
>>
>> Later Opensuse versions have more or less a few problems, I also tried
>> other distros but without luck.
>>
>> So my question is, is it fine to stick to an old version even it is not
>> supported any more? In terms of stability, security, usability…
>>
>> Thanks!
>
>Three things to consider:
>First: 10.3 is no longer officially supported, i.e. no updates, patches
>etc anymore.
>Second: Why would you replace 10.3, if it works for you. The only thing
>you may not know off is security, the other 2 appear to be covered for
>you. Like DenverD says, security is up to you.
>Third thing you’d have to ask yourself: Do I want to stay up-to-date on
>desktop experience (you may miss a lot of improvement on 10.3), kernel
>etc.

Well now, i and perhaps others might pick a bone about desktop experience
of say 10.3/KDE, which i am still considering going back to, versus my
present 11.1/KDE3.5. KDE4 won’t be ready for prime time for about a year
at the present rate. Of course i am a bit of a stability freak (and eye
heroin disgusts me). Plus there is my very old laptop, it has 7.3 on it.

You were warned about multiple answers.

>
>This does not help you very much, I know. For me the fact that 10.3 is
>no longer supported counts most. I’d rather install 11.2 and get help
>here to overcome the issues.

#15

I am using OS 10.3 with KDE 3.5 in an old laptop. It has FF 3.6 ja quite recent Java and Flash installed from original Mozilla, Sun and Adobe packages. Keeping those up-to-date is maybe too much work in the long run. This computer is mainly used by kids to view videos and as long as it works, it will be kept, but only for home use. Internet banking, e-mail, online shopping etc. is done in more recent computers. NAT and firewall give some security, but it may not be enought.