[KLUG Members] Distributions and Package management

[David Bronson]

I have found the Debian apt tool far more usable and flexible than the
RHN or other tools. One difference I have found is that Redhat has not
offered the code for the RHN servers for other to effectively mirror. I
think now there may be an open source tool that emulates the function of
the RHN server.

I have one Redhat machine and frequently am unable to update because I
don't pay for the priority service. I have not had this issue with apt
(which is free).

In addition to providing a very consistent package layout (with conf
files in /etc/, for example); Apt and dpkg make source packages usable
like Qmail. If I want to install the deb on more than one machine, it
doesn't require that I recompile the package for each machine, I am able
to use the same deb on other mail servers (with the same architecture).

The make kpkg tool also makes kernel updates much easier for
admins that have many boxes that are similar. Apt-proxy allows
machines to get custom configured kernel packages from a trusted
machine.

I see few similarities between apt and M$'s tool.


David Bronson

<SNIP>

> 
> And don't mention Debion/apt-get,  I might as well subscribe to M$'s automatic
> update service.  Ahhhh!

</SNIP>