.. _upgrade-guidelines: ================== General Guidelines ================== If you're doing an upgrade install (rather than a fresh install), there's two suggested approaches: either install Bro using the same installation prefix directory as before, or pick a new prefix and copy local customizations over. In the following we summarize general guidelines for upgrading, see the `Release Notes `_ for version-specific information. Re-Using Previous Install Prefix ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you choose to configure and install Bro with the same prefix directory as before, local customization and configuration to files in ``$prefix/share/bro/site`` and ``$prefix/etc`` won't be overwritten (``$prefix`` indicating the root of where Bro was installed). Also, logs generated at run-time won't be touched by the upgrade. (But making a backup of local changes before upgrading is still recommended.) After upgrading, remember to check ``$prefix/share/bro/site`` and ``$prefix/etc`` for ``.example`` files, which indicate the distribution's version of the file differs from the local one, which may include local changes. Review the differences, and make adjustments as necessary (for differences that aren't the result of a local change, use the new version's). Using a New Install prefix ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you want to install the newer version in a different prefix directory than before, you can just copy local customization and configuration files from ``$prefix/share/bro/site`` and ``$prefix/etc`` to the new location (``$prefix`` indicating the root of where Bro was originally installed). Make sure to review the files for difference before copying and make adjustments as necessary (for differences that aren't the result of a local change, use the new version's). Of particular note, the copied version of ``$prefix/etc/broctl.cfg`` is likely to need changes to the ``SpoolDir`` and ``LogDir`` settings.