Install a certain package

[MikeStr]

Hello everyone,

I have the following situation:

I have an unstable debian version running, I think it's an Etch but I'm not sure. Anyways I need to edit the sudoers file and I noticed visudo is not installed. So I did an apt-get install sudo. But I'm scared something might go wrong because I am running an unstable version.

Can I install the package or not? Because I don't want something to happen to the server.

Thank you very much for your help.

[oz]

I'm scared something might go wrong because I am running an unstable version.

Can I install the package or not? Because I don't want something to happen to the server.

Hello and welcome!

In most cases, server users need highly reliable systems. If you are running a server, I would never recommend running the "unstable" branch of any distribution because of the high risk you take that installing new packages might break something. If taking a chance on these potential breakages is not an option for you, go with the "stable" version of the distro of your choice. Of course, even then there is still a chance that something might break during new package installs, or upgrades, but the chances of problems are reduced significantly.

If you want to continue with the "unstable" version, make sure that you always have a good backup in place so that you can restore your system to where it was before any package updates or new package installs.

[MikeStr]

Hello and welcome!

In most cases, server users need highly reliable systems. If you are running a server, I would never recommend running the "unstable" branch of any distribution because of the high risk you take that installing new packages might break something. If taking a chance on these potential breakages is not an option for you, go with the "stable" version of the distro of your choice. Of course, even then there is still a chance that something might break during new package installs, or upgrades, but the chances of problems are reduced significantly.

If you want to continue with the "unstable" version, make sure that you always have a good backup in place so that you can restore your system to where it was before any package updates or new package installs.

Thank you for the welcome!

Yes I am well aware of the unstable version. The server was setup by a former employee for a subsidiary and our company manages the server. I already told the subsidiary we need to install a stable version but their response "if it ain't broken don't fix". But yet they ask me to manage the server. So I needed the sudo update but because it's an unstable version I'm afraid it might break something. Though the sudo update is really small update with no dependencies would it really do damage? I know an apt-get update/upgrade would cause alot of troubles but the sudo update too?

[Jonathan183]

can you post contents of your /etc/apt/sources.list so we can see which repositories you will be pulling the sudo package from ...

[MikeStr]

Here is my /etc/apt/sources.list

sources.jpg

It doesn't let me post urls yet hence the screenshot. Doesn't seem unstable updates or am I wrong?

[Jonathan183]

etch is an obselete stable release ... see here