Can't distinguish a Beta install from a Final

[jcoles]

It's good to see the release of Linux Lite 3.4 Final.
I've been using a 3.4 Beta installation and have kept it updated. But I assume that I must do a full install of the Final because the release notes say "There is no upgrade path to or from Beta releases."

I have just noticed, though, that there's no indication in the installed OS that it is a Beta rather than a Final. Even the System Information app shows "Linux Lite 3.4" instead of "Linux Lite 3.4 Beta". If I didn't know that I installed the OS before the Final ISO release, there's no way I could tell. Presumably, if I forgot to install 3.4 Final, I would later find myself unable to upgrade to v3.6 using Lite Upgrade. There should be a clear and obvious way to tell the difference between Beta and Final. Either that, or allow the Beta to be upgraded to Final.

[torreydale]

Betas are usually released one month or less before the full release.  Maybe the command lsb_release -a will reveal something about it being a beta.  If not, at some point one has to know what kind of gas one put into one's car.

[jcoles]

Thanks for the new command. The result is:

$ lsb_release -a
No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Linux Lite 3.4
Release: 16.04
Codename: xenial

In some distros, Beta + updates = Final. Perhaps that is the case with Lite, too. The statement, "There is no upgrade path to or from Beta releases" might refer to upgrading directly from 3.4 Beta to 3.6, for example. Perhaps I was wrong thinking that transitioning from Beta to Full is an upgrade.

[Valtam]

Upgrade paths:

Linux Lite 3.2 Final to Linux Lite 3.4 Final - Yes
Linux Lite 3.4 Beta to Linux Lite 3.4 Final - No
Linux Lite 3.4 Beta to Linux Lite 3.6 Final - No

Beta's are strictly for testing, we make this crystal clear in our Beta announcements. Cheers.

[Scott(0)]

Hi jcoles

This approach may help.

If you run this command in a terminal window

Code:

sudo tune2fs -l /dev/sda1 | grep 'Filesystem created:'

it will reveal the date the file system was created on a given drive.

From here you can compare the filesystem creation date with the Linux Lite release date and get an idea if it's a beta release.

Note. Make sure the right drive/filesystem is checked. The above example is for /dev/sda1, change this accordingly. A command like

Code:

sudo fdisk -l
or
sudo blkid

will list available partitions/drives.

[ralphy]

Hi jcoles

This approach may help.

If you run this command in a terminal window

Code:

sudo tune2fs -l /dev/sda1 | grep 'Filesystem created:'

it will reveal the date the file system was created on a given drive.

From here you can compare the filesystem creation date with the Linux Lite release date and get an idea if it's a beta release.

Note. Make sure the right drive/filesystem is checked. The above example is for /dev/sda1, change this accordingly. A command like

Code:

sudo fdisk -l
or
sudo blkid

will list available partitions/drives.

Just a quick note: it can also be retrieved with the latest Create System Report version:

[Scott(0)]

8) [member=6629]ralphy[/member] - Well, the system report approach is *much* easier. Thanks!