Hi Martin, * Martin Bochnig (martin at martux.org) wrote: > Most will agree, that space on a 700MB CD is somewhat limited, even > when using clofi with highest and most cpu-intensive compression > algorithm and ratio, such as gzip-9. > > While the concepts of modern Network-Repos such as IPS (or e.g. > conary) are a really innovative nice technology, and while they offer > users way improved much more fine-grained control over what they want > to install, and how to "patch" a system, it can be annoying that a > user who simply wants to quickly install "all" available packages at > once, has currently no better choice than installing the limited CD > contents to hdd and later needs to > > $ pfexec pkg install redistributable > > ... which involves more slow I/O operations over the Network and > therefore takes much longer than downloading a single (equally > file-sized) iso image and installing that from DVD. > > Therefore I hereby propose an optional OS2009.06 LiveDVD which works > analogous to the matching CD, which can be created in exactly the same > way via DC, everything matching, but which includes all stuff from > /dev on disk and installs everything. Right now via cpio and all at > once as a single global overall-cluster. > > Later on pkg-cluster support could follow. > I know that I'm lagging behind with many of my announced (then not yet > delivered projects). > I'm involved in too many exciting things, it is difficult to focus on > - and push through - one dedicated thing. > But this LiveDVD could be a high-ranking candidate ...
So, the question I have is what problem are you trying to solve? Is there really a large segment of users of OpenSolaris that want to install 4GB+ of software on their systems as a regular practice? I've never installed 'the whole wad' (for lack of a better term) except back when we didn't have IPS and had to install using the legacy install metaclusters. And when I was doing that I hated it because a huge chunk of the stuff installed had no relevance to my computing needs or platform. I only did so, because it was far easier to just say 'give me the whole wad' than it was to figure out dependencies for the things I did actually need. Bandwidth costs money. Downloading a 'starter' liveCD that gives you enough to get up and running, with support to add in the 'pieces' you want later seems like a perfect tradeoff for a lot of reasons. You don't end up having people downloading gigabytes of data (software) that they aren't likely to ever need or use. Not to mention, at some point IPS will have a 'repo on a disk' feature (or better known as the on-disk package format for IPS packages). Presumably there will be a way for consumers to construct such a thing and then use it on an installed system (or perhaps even during installation). To be honest, I personally don't see the value in a liveDVD. Purely for the fact that I don't think many typical users would find installing 'the entire wad' particularly useful or interesting. There's a whole lot there that isn't very useful in the majority of cases imo. My .02. Cheers, -- Glenn
