The upgrade path has been opened for Linux Mint users

Jul 4, 2015 08:26 GMT  ·  By

Now that Linux Mint 17.2 "Rafaela" has been officially released, both for the MATE and Cinnamon flavors, the upgrade path has been opened for the users of older versions.

If you are a Linux Mint user, you don't need to install each new version of the operating system, as you can just upgrade from one version to another. This is done relatively easy from the Update Manager, and the developers make it very clear what packages get new versions and what are the changes.

The only major difference is that the Linux Mint upgrade system doesn't perform a bulk upgrade of everything, as it happens on Ubuntu. Instead, Linux Mint devs have implemented tiers - five of them, to be precise - and the user can decide exactly what to get.

Linux Mint 17.2 upgrade is ready

The policy of the project is really simple, "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it." This means that, if you are happy with your current installation, you should keep it. On the other hand, each new upgrade brings new features and various fixes, so it's up to the user to decide.

"Upgrading to 17.2 will upgrade to Rafaela of course, but also apply all level 1 updates for you. You do not need to apply level 2, 3, 4 or 5 updates to upgrade to the new version of Linux Mint, and doing so won’t apply these for you. Level 4 and 5 updates are not recommended unless they bring solutions to issues you're facing. Level 3 updates should be applied selectively and with precautions" is noted in the announcement.

Another interesting aspect of the update process is that the Linux kernel is not part of the recommended process, and it's also something that users must decide for themselves. It's an important component, and the Linux Mint team doesn't make that decision for you.

As usual, you just open the Update Manager and follow the instructions. It's a simple process, and all you'll have to do is follow the on-screen instructions. You can also download the ISO images for Linux Mint 17.2 "Rafaela" from Softpedia and give it a spin before installing it or upgrading to it.