samba - Dec 2024 - What is my best upgrade path?

I am running Samba 4.14.7 with two servers setup as my AD servers and configured
to replicate. I have a number of other domain joined servers and desktop
systems. The servers are all running Rocky Linux 8.10. I have a standalone
server running the same OS but not domain joined that I use as my
build-Samba-from-source server. I build there then move the resulting tree to
the live servers.

I want to get to everything running Rocky Linux 9.5 (current) and current
version of Samba. I have a new build server built and two other servers that I
can turn into AD servers.

What is my best way forward? I figured I was going to do some variation on
adding a third server with newer stuff to get this rolling. However, with the
big jump in Samba versions, I am reluctant to upgrade the OS and Samba all the
way to the end state in one jump. But I don?t know if I am just outsmarting
myself here.

I could upgrade just the OS on the new servers by adding them to AD on the old
version and dropping the originals. Then I could upgrade Samba on AD controller
at a time to newer versions (how many steps here? All at once or are there
versions in the middle is should stop at?)

Or I could do updates on the original Rocky Linux 8 infra, updating to newer
Samba before cutting across to the Rocky Linux 9 based kit.

Or does any of this really make a difference?

Advice appreciated 

-- Peter

On Tue, 17 Dec 2024 16:30:09 -0500
Peter Smode via samba <samba at lists.samba.org> wrote:
> I am running Samba 4.14.7 with two servers setup as my AD servers and
> configured to replicate. I have a number of other domain joined
> servers and desktop systems. The servers are all running Rocky Linux
> 8.10. I have a standalone server running the same OS but not domain
> joined that I use as my build-Samba-from-source server. I build there
> then move the resulting tree to the live servers.
> 
> I want to get to everything running Rocky Linux 9.5 (current) and
> current version of Samba. I have a new build server built and two
> other servers that I can turn into AD servers.
> 
> What is my best way forward? I figured I was going to do some
> variation on adding a third server with newer stuff to get this
> rolling. However, with the big jump in Samba versions, I am reluctant
> to upgrade the OS and Samba all the way to the end state in one jump.
> But I don?t know if I am just outsmarting myself here.
> 
> I could upgrade just the OS on the new servers by adding them to AD
> on the old version and dropping the originals. Then I could upgrade
> Samba on AD controller at a time to newer versions (how many steps
> here? All at once or are there versions in the middle is should stop
> at?)
> 
> Or I could do updates on the original Rocky Linux 8 infra, updating
> to newer Samba before cutting across to the Rocky Linux 9 based kit. 
> 
> Or does any of this really make a difference?
> 
> Advice appreciated 
> 
> -- Peter
Well, in my opinion your best upgrade path would be to move to Debian
12 and use Samba from backports, but failing that, stick with RL9 and
install Samba from Tranquil IT, no need to build it.

I would start with the DCs and then move on to the domain members.

Rowland