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Upgrade advice for ooold system

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28 Nov 2025 14:56 #339372 by cahlfors
Upgrade advice for ooold system was created by cahlfors
Dear forum,
My name is Chris and I have neglected my system.
File Attachment:
 
This winter seems like a good time to do something about it, since my workshop is too cold anyway, but I need your expertise in finding the best way forward.

Hardware:
* CPU (AMD64 compatible, I think)
    Version: AMD Athlon(tm) II X4 600e Processor
    Voltage: 1.0 V
    External Clock: 200 MHz
    Max Speed: 3000 MHz
    Current Speed: 2200 MHz
    Status: Populated, Enabled
    Upgrade: Socket 754
* Parallel port cards installed in the PC to control a box (rather expensive...) with the stepper drivers. I think the cards were PCI express.
Software:
* Debian Wheezy
* LinuxCNC v 2.7.15 
However, I am afraid that this little line that meets me when logging on, indicates that I may have installed a 32 bit OS/LCNC?
Linux [system name] 3.4-9-rtai-686-pae #1 SMP PREEMPT Debian 3.4.55-4linuxcnc i686
To complicate things further, I managed to struggle through the process of remapping M6 and I am really not looking forward to do that again, since I understand nothing of what I did. But it works, yay!
File Attachment:


I understand that hardware ditching day is coming, but is it now?
What should I do?

/Chris
 

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28 Nov 2025 15:45 #339373 by Aciera
Replied by Aciera on topic Upgrade advice for ooold system
If it works for you, why change it?

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28 Nov 2025 16:59 #339376 by cahlfors
Replied by cahlfors on topic Upgrade advice for ooold system
The reasons for upgrading the operating system are:
1 Security. There are no longer security fixes for Wheezy.
2 When my previous system was taken out by lightning, I could simply move the hard drive over to another machine and had it up and running the same day. Moving old software over to modern hardware won't work - a risk.
3 Support a current version of LinuxCNC.

The reasons to be on a current version of LinuxCNC are:
1 A lot of work goes into the product with enhancements on functionality, usability, compatibility, easy of use, hardware support, simplified configuration and more.
2 I might benefit directly from such enhancements.
3 If I run into an issue and ask for help, the first question is usually about the version - generally speaking. If old, the first advice is to upgrade, for people to be able to help. The problem might well be solved in later versions. Nobody wants to, or is even able to support old stuff.

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28 Nov 2025 21:04 #339397 by tommylight
Replied by tommylight on topic Upgrade advice for ooold system
It is Linux so do not worry to much about security, and if you are worried yank out the internet cable.
Normally, if you do not click on some malware links in the browser or open e-mails containing malware, there is nothing to worry about, there are plenty of servers on public IP's that were never upgraded still working running Linux happily.
In short, if the machine works properly = never upgrade.
Long version:
I am fully aware of the psychosis caused by Microshaft spending billions on marketing to prove Linux is not secure, and they miserably failed as all Microsoft servers run Linux.
Windows will be someone else's property in 2 minutes flat if left on public IP.
The extremely bad thing is, that sentiment keeps getting perpetuated by lazy youtubers that play experts on youtube yapping about security being the same on both, it is NOT the same in any way, shape or form, and the worst thing is they talk about browser security that is close enough security vise but still not the same, while utterly ignoring the operating system security that is non existent on windows and extremely good on Linux.

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30 Nov 2025 19:10 #339522 by andypugh
Replied by andypugh on topic Upgrade advice for ooold system
The CPU is 64-bit so there may be an upgrade path.

Why not try booting from the latest ISO image on a USB stick and see what haoppens?

www.linuxcnc.org/iso/linuxcnc_2.9.7-amd64.hybrid.iso
The following user(s) said Thank You: cahlfors

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07 Dec 2025 07:29 - 07 Dec 2025 07:30 #339810 by timo
Replied by timo on topic Upgrade advice for ooold system
Sitting in the coffee shop having nothing else to do than posting rubbish half knowledge :-)

I think my problem is usually not the missing updates, but the forgotten details, due to lack of documentation. So maybe just update the documentation is already good.

I never connect my cnc machines to the internet (what for?).
I would leave the existing system completely untouched and create an independent newer backup system. (Takes time pressure away)

The hours you have to invest in the backup system is probably the same as fixing things once it stopped working. (bad wheather? unplug! ) :-)
I bought parallelport cards for cheap, they worked on newer, but still old hardware. (6-7 year old 2nd hand PC)

I would only update if there is a particular function that I want or need.
Never change running system.
Last edit: 07 Dec 2025 07:30 by timo.
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07 Dec 2025 11:50 - 07 Dec 2025 13:06 #339819 by unknown
Replied by unknown on topic Upgrade advice for ooold system
Upon reflection, do what thy will.
Last edit: 07 Dec 2025 13:06 by unknown. Reason: too long winded and opinionated

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