[Linerva-announce] Linerva upgrade to Debian 6.0 64-bit early Tuesday morning

[Geoffrey Thomas]

Beginning approximately 6 AM this Tuesday, January 24, we will be 
upgrading Linerva from Debian 5.0 "lenny" 32-bit to Debian 6.0 
"squeeze" 64-bit. This upgrade requires reinstalling the server, so it 
will involve some brief downtime.

We have set up a test server, linerva-test.mit.edu, with the same software 
and configuration as will be installed on linerva-test.mit.edu. If you are 
relying on Linerva to run applications that do not work on other Athena 
workstations or athena.dialup.mit.edu, notably 32-bit-only applications, 
please test them on linerva-test.mit.edu in advance of the upgrade. Please 
let us know at linerva at mit.edu if you have applications that no longer 
run, and we can look into what 32-bit compatibility options are feasible.

linerva-test's SSH RSA fingerprint is
2a:fd:62:ff:78:14:86:bc:fc:8a:d0:94:7c:33:a0:f6

Web logins (https://linerva.mit.edu/) are currently not enabled on 
linerva-test, although they will continue to be enabled on linerva after 
the upgrade.

Security support for Debian 5.0 ends in early February, which necessitates 
us upgrading to Debian 6.0 before then. This upgrade also brings newer 
software that Linerva's users have requested, as well as improved 
compatibility and parity with Athena cluster workstations. We'll send 
information about the progress of the upgrade to the Twitter account 
@sipb, and will send another e-mail once Linerva is available for logins 
again.

As always, if you have any questions about this upgrade or about Linerva, 
please feel free to contact us at linerva at mit.edu.

-- 
Geoffrey Thomas
SIPB Linerva team
linerva at mit.edu