On Wednesday 12 August 2009 12:43:27 bn wrote: > So I am becoming very reluctant in updating critical components -one > example is my kernel, which is basically untouched since I installed, in > late 2007. I know it's counterproductive, because the more I wait, the > worse it is, but it's always a matter of time, and I don't have that > time -not to update per se, which I have, but to face problems in case > critical updates don't go smooth. > > Any advice on this kind of situation? I would rather not buy a "backup > laptop".
Keeping the previous (working) kernel, and having a rescue disk around usually is enough to fix most kinds of breakages. Also building binary packages is useful for quickly restored broken packages (FEATURES=buildpkg or something like that in make.conf).