Packages differences between Ubuntu versions (i.e.: Hardy Heron versus Jaunty Jackalope)

[Amedee @ Ubuntu]

On Tue, August 4, 2009 16:25, Oli D wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'd like to know what are the differences between the different Ubuntu
> versions. The way I understand
> it, the main differences lie in the packages (which version is
> available in the version's repos, etc.) plus some few
> minor changes such as the Private or .private or private or whatever
> folder.
>
> In short, what I'd like to know is if, for example, I "echo 'package
> hold' | sudo dpkg --set-selections" and then
> dist-upgrade, are there possibilities for the system to break? (For
> the record, I'm willing to hold the main X.org
> package from Hardy and then upgrade to Jaunty since I want to use the
> nvidia-177 driver on Jaunty).
>
> Anyone knows if my idea could work or if it's likely to break the system?

You shouldn't skip versions.
First upgrade from Hardy Heron (8.04 LTS) to Intrepid Ibex (8.10), then
upgrade to Jaunty Jackalope (9.04).

You can only skip versions if you are upgrading from LTS to LTS.
The only supported direct upgrade paths are:
6.06 LTS -> 8.04 LTS
8.04 LTS -> 10.04 LTS
10.04 LTS -> 12.04 LTS

I hope you can see the pattern: there is only an LTS version every 2
years, and a minor version every 6 months. (6.06 was an anomaly.)

-- 
Amedee