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Install or Remove Applications You may add or remove applications to an installed Yellow Dog Linux system using the application the "Package Manager" which is found via YDL Menu --> Applications --> System Tools --> Add/Remove Software. IMPORTANT NOTE The Package Manager will fail to run if you do not have a) internet access; and b) a proper yum repository configured. It is suggested that you use the List TAB to select or deselect the apps to be installed or removed, not the Browse listing. When using the Package Manager, be very careful! If you deselect a package set and commit the chance, it will remove the entire package set from your local installation. This can be rather dangerous for you could inadvertently render your system useless if not careful. ALWAYS pay attention to the full list of items to be removed before acknowledging the modification. Update Installed Applications While Linux just runs, and runs, ... and keeps on running, it is often the case that you don't need to update your local software too often, maybe once a year or two, but in this fast paced interconnected world, it is nice to know you have the most current, fastest, secure software installed. "Updating" software means replacing an installed application with the latest version, via one of the 3 methods below: Fully-Automated method: Use Software Updater (pup, or "Package UPdater") found in via YDL Menu --> Applications --> System Tools --> Software Updater. Software Updater automates the process of updating installed packages by comparing those packages installed on your local computer and those available to you. You are then given option to download and install all packages which have available, newer versions. IMPORTANT NOTE Software Updater will fail to run if you do not have a) internet access; and b) a proper yum repository configured. Semi-Automated method: Use yum to make simple the process of updating installed applications and installing new software too. Fully manual method: Use your YDL.net Enhanced account or the public mirrors to manually FTP download the most current updates. Upgrading to the next version of Yellow Dog Linux While updating your installed applications from YDL v6.x to v6.y (for example) is condudted via the "yum upgrade" command, when upgrading from one version of Yellow Dog Linux to the next, for instance, from YDL v5.0.1 to YDL v6.0, it is likely you will need to reinstall the entire OS. Before you do this, it is prudent to backup your /home/[username]/ directory to an external storage device. To back up your home directory: 1. You may use the Nautilus file manager (found by default on Virtual Desktop 0) to create an archive of /home/[username]. 2. Copy the archive to an external storage device (ie: USB thumbdrive or DVD). 3. Install the new OS version ... and while you are at it, create a unique /home dir so that in the future, you do not have to format /home when you upgrade the OS. Be certain to use the exact same username when adding your user accounts to the new OS installation. 4. Copy the archive from the external storage device back to the internal drive. 5. Rename the new /home/[username] directory to /home/[username].new. 6. Extract the archive which will restore your /home/username/ directory--and you should be good to go.