[KLUG Members] Package Manager Problems

[Bruce Smith]

> > To do a system-wide update of all installed packages (notably, to
> > catch up with all security updates):
> > 
> >     apt-get dist-upgrade
> 
> I do three things when I update:
> 
> dselect update ; dselect select ; apt-get dselect-upgrade

What about someone who runs multiple Debian boxes?  It would seem 
a waste of bandwidth to download the updates for all boxes.

> > The security benefit is huge.
> 
> Absolutely. As long as I keep up on updates, I don't have known bugs
> hanging around. Unstable has the security fixes in naturally, but all
> such fixes are backported to testing and stable.

What are the pros & cons of updating unattended in a cron job.

> > It appeared the CD had the files in the wrong directory, but I'm not
> > sure.
> 
> Believe it or not, it probably did. The way apt creates 'pointers' to
> stored packages is rather confusing. Whenever I change a source or add
> one I can count on fiddling with the line in /etc/apt/sources.list.

I did mess with that file, but couldn't fix it.

> > > I am still confused why Redhat doesn't provide a up2date channel
> > > with newer pacakges. Offering newer revs of Mozilla, Evolution and
> > > Gnome would rock. 
> >
> > My only guess is Redhat wants to sell CD's of their new releases.
> 
> Understandable. Maybe now that a member of Software in the Public
> Interest resigned, citing lack of commitment on others' parts, we'll get
> some easier ways to contribute to Debian (I particularly favor Paypal).

Another complaint I have about Debian is they don't supply ISO images
for download like Redhat.  (or didn't the last time I looked)

It's a pain trying to find contributed ISO's to download for KLUG.

--------------------------------------------
Bruce Smith                bruce@armintl.com
System Administrator / Network Administrator
Armstrong International, Inc.
Three Rivers, Michigan  49093  USA
http://www.armstrong-intl.com/
--------------------------------------------