[NTLUG:Discuss] 2+ years up time (was: What is the Best Linux & Why?)

[Burton M. Strauss III]

Can't let this pass...

<snip />

 -----Original Message-----
> From: discuss-bounces at ntlug.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at ntlug.org]On
> Behalf Of Dennis Myhand
> Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 11:42 AM
> To: NTLUG Discussion List
> Subject: Re: [NTLUG:Discuss] What is the Best Linux & Why?

<snip />
> The kind of
> boasting I listen too are guys who talk about 2 or more years
> uptime.  That
> has value.

Actually for most users it doesn't.  Unless you have a secure system on a
highly trusted network (which probably doesn't exist), that means you
haven't applied the patches for the various kernel problems over the last
two years.

That puts you in the same boat as the Win98 user who has never patched his
system - known  root compromises are out there for both.  Bad either way...

Besides, what are the chances that two years of script changes are really
going to work on reboot?  And what are the chances that there hasn't been a
single HD error (remember, for most users, no reboot = no fsck).

Rebooting only as often as you need to is prudent, but failing to apply
necessary changes to protect the holy grail of uptime isn't...

-----Burton