My first major version upgrade

[frmb]

Hello out there,
excuse me, I'm a coward and not a professional to linux.
I'm running
Linux 4.4.0-176-generic #206-Ubuntu SMP Fri Feb 28 05:02:04 UTC 2020 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
and mintupdate has a level 5 update called
linux-base from 4.5ubuntu1~16.04.1 to 4.5ubuntu1.1~16.04.1

I'm not sure, what will happen. Will that upgrade my system from 4.4 to 4.5?
Is that safe for a non-professional linux user?
I found some forum topics related going from 4.5 1 to 4.5 1.1, but nothing about going from 4.4 to 4.5.

Thanks and kind regards

[Koning Mint]

Hello out there,
excuse me, I'm a coward and not a professional to linux.
I'm running
Linux 4.4.0-176-generic #206-Ubuntu SMP Fri Feb 28 05:02:04 UTC 2020 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
and mintupdate has a level 5 update called
linux-base from 4.5ubuntu1~16.04.1 to 4.5ubuntu1.1~16.04.1

I'm not sure, what will happen. Will that upgrade my system from 4.4 to 4.5?
Is that safe for a non-professional linux user?
I found some forum topics related going from 4.5 1 to 4.5 1.1, but nothing about going from 4.4 to 4.5.

Thanks and kind regards

Level 5? What do you mean?

there is nothing to be afraid for when you update a linux kernel.
I have never experienced any issue on linux mint or other .deb distro.

[Pierre]

the older versions of the LinuxMint System, did actually have an Level System of Updates,
and any level 4 & 5 Updates, were mainly from the system level, such as kernel updates.
whilst level 1 was LinuxMint updates specifically, and level 2 & 3 were updates from the Ubuntu System.

the later versions of the LinuxMint System, do no-longer utilise that system, any-more.

if the LinuxMint Update Manger, that is in the RHS of the Taskbar, does indicate that some kernel updates,
are available .. you would be wise to Install them ..

[wilbobob]

Hello Frmb. Are you still running the version of Mint that you installed in 2016?
Posting the results from running inxi -Fxz in the Terminal will help others advise on your best course of action.
Bob

[pbear]

Linux 4.4.0-176-generic #206-Ubuntu SMP Fri Feb 28 05:02:04 UTC 2020 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
and mintupdate has a level 5 update called
linux-base from 4.5ubuntu1~16.04.1 to 4.5ubuntu1.1~16.04.1

I'm not sure, what will happen. Will that upgrade my system from 4.4 to 4.5?
Is that safe for a non-professional linux user?

Sounds like Mint 18.1 (or 18). That package wouldn't be level 5 in 18.2 or .3 (the definition changed).
Anyhoo, yes, it's safe to install. Well, I put it through on my 18.1 test box and it's still fine.

There's always a possibility an update will cause a problem. That's why the developers added Timeshift to the system in 18.3. By the way, if you haven't, you should install Timeshift. It's in repo. Use the default settings. It saves a copy of your system files, so you can roll back if an update causes a problem. If you're strapped for space on the hard drive (TS typically needs 15 to 20 GB), you can save the snapshots on a flash drive.

But, no, it doesn't upgrade your system. It's a minor update, still based on Ubuntu 16.04 (as was all of Mint 18.x).

[karlchen]

Cross reference to 2 recent threads about the same issue (misunderstanding what linux-base is):

• [Solved] Update to Linux Kernel 4.5ubuntu1.1
• [Solved] 4.5ubuntu1.1 Kernel Update

Summary:
Not a kernel update. Not a major version upgrade. Calm down.

Suggested action in this case and similar cases:
Use Synaptic in order to locate the package in question, read their description, maybe the changelogs, check the installed files and folders list.

[AndyMH]

There is no problem continuing with a 4.4 kernel, it is supported and will receive updates until 2022.

[karlchen]

There is no problem continuing with a 4.4 kernel, it is supported and will receive updates until 2022.

The update linux-base from 4.5ubuntu1~16.04.1 to 4.5ubuntu1.1~16.04.1 is not a kernel update at all. Cf. the post above, please.

[frmb]

Hello again,
due to

There is no problem continuing with a 4.4 kernel, it is supported and will receive updates until 2022.

I did not update and still run Mint 18.

But now I'm facing challenges: Eclipse 2021-03 doesn't work correctly on GTK 3.18.9, needs at least GTK 3.20.
https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=574219
And now we are back in the discussion: Is there an easy, reliable way to upgrade GTK? (I'm doing recommended system updates regularly)

Or do the experts advice, to better upgrade the whole Mint to 19? ...20?

Kind regards

[Larry78723]

Support for LM18.x ended in April 2021. Please post an inxi -Fxxxzr report. This will give us a concise overview of your hardware and on how Mint sees it.

Here is how to generate the report and post it:
Open a terminal window (Ctrl-Alt-t). Make it fullscreen to avoid unneeded linebreaks or chopped lines. Execute the command

Code: Select all

 inxi -Fxxxzr 

exactly as it has been typed here.

Mark the complete text output which the command will display with your mouse.
Press the keyboard shortcut <Shift><Ctrl>C to copy the marked text into the clipboard.
Enclose the results between the code markers by selecting </> from the mini toolbar above the textbox where you type your reply then paste <Ctrl>V them in your reply between the code markers [code]Results [/code].

The results will help us to determine which version you should install.
Larry

[frmb]

Thanks for the support! Here you are:

Code: Select all

System:    Host: Nanoxia Kernel: 4.4.0-210-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.0.7 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3) dm: mdm Distro: Linux Mint 18 Sarah
Machine:   Mobo: MSI model: Z170-A PRO (MS-7971) v: 1.0 Bios: American Megatrends v: 1.F0 date: 10/19/2016
CPU:       Quad core Intel Core i5-6500 (-MCP-) cache: 6144 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 25536
           clock speeds: min/max: 800/3600 MHz 1: 900 MHz 2: 900 MHz 3: 900 MHz 4: 900 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel HD Graphics 530 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:1912
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1920x1200@59.95hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 530 (Skylake GT2)
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 18.0.5 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card Intel 100 Series/C230 Series Family HD Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1f.3 chip-ID: 8086:a170
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.4.0-210-generic
Network:   Card: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: e000 bus-ID: 02:00.0 
[...]
Info:      Processes: 258 Uptime: 1 day Memory: 5644.6/15750.0MB
           Init: systemd v: 229 runlevel: 5 default: 2 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481 running in gnome-terminal-) inxi: 2.2.35 

[Larry78723]

You didn't provide a complete report as requested. Please give us all the data.

[frmb]

You didn't provide a complete report as requested. Please give us all the data.

I dropped only a few infos intentionally. If that prevents you from helping me, than it is as it is. Thank you nevertheless.

[frmb]

Hi to you all,

I'm planning to upgrade from Mint 18 over Mint 19 to Mint 20. I've got my home dirs encrypted with Linux built-in encryption technology (ecryptfs). I did that while initially installing Mint 18 and I never had any problem with that. Just type in my password on the login screen and that's it.

Will there be any difficulties, while upgrading (eg Mint 19 doesn't understand Mint 18 encryption or you have to export some encryption key prior to upgrade or similar unexpected things) ?

Kind regards and thank you for sharing your experience

[Boca]

You didn't provide a complete report as requested. Please give us all the data.

I dropped only a few infos intentionally. If that prevents you from helping me, than it is as it is. Thank you nevertheless.

Hi,

as a relative newbie, I'm impressed with how folks on this forum assist us.
On occasion, not only have they solved my original problem... they have also pointed out issues with my setup which has helped me avoid problems in the future.
IMHO, it is worth providing the full report requested ( which, BTW, is less work than cutting bits out of it before posting?)

Tony