Hi, i'm not subscribed to this list, so i hope someone will approve this post... ;)))
I'm thinking about a feature to add to debian package management system, feature that i consider usefoul. I manage my debian box, a fidonet BBS running also debian, and in the near future a full-internet box (called Pasolini). In BBS and Pasolini i've no critical data, no user files that have to be backed up: only some ftp (nodelist and misc file), some web (mirrored in at least 2 other place), some spool file that can be lost with no pain. So in this machines i do backup simply periodically tarring /etc, /var/named, /var/spool/cron, /usr/local. If a disk fault occured, i reinstall the distribution, tar back config file and run. But... But, how can i trace exactly the package installed?! People in debian-italian say me to backup /var/lib/dpkg/status, right answer. But can i reinstall the exactly number and version of package from status file?! debian-italian guys say me that i can build a perl-script that extract package name from status and install it. Ok, but this is not the best answer, because i don't know perl ;), and because i think this is a usefoul feature, not so hard to implement. Pratically such feature will get a status file, will search for package in source media and reinstall it. Usefoul goodies will be a warning print if package version mismatch (i recompile often package, at least if* and procmail), jump configuration steps (save time, and i've a tar of /etc in some safe place). With this feature one can install a base debian system, feed the old status file to dpkg/apt, reinstall package, untar the old configuration file over the fresh-installed system, restore the web contents. Et voila`. Cool, eh?! ;-) [i don't say this is a *good* backup policy, simply i say that in some cases is a decent backup policy. or at least good to me! ;)] -- Marco ``Gaio'' Gaiarin | Leandes di P�s (http://www.fvg.peacelink.it) P.zza S. Tommaso, 20 | Membro PLUTO (http://www.pluto.linux.it) Cimpello di Fiume Veneto | Universal Mind BBS (modem/fax +39-0434-56-1305) 33080 Pordenone (Italia) | 2:333/1016 61:3917/1 1907:393/104 91:13/1 Tel. +39-0434-95-9555 | http://users.iol.it/marcogaio/ [EMAIL PROTECTED]
