Hi all, I'm managing a number of (ubuntu) workstations and servers and found it labour-intensive to keep configurations similar. I use aptitude to set my manual/auto selections and have some preferences on certain debconf questions. I know about some tricks/hacks to import/export package selections and I know about the debconf-pre-seed configuration at install time.
This all feels to limited to me. What I would like is a way to 'package' certain parts of the dpkg/apt/debconf configuration and diff them to other systems and apply them on top of each other. Of course I know about packages like ubuntu-standard and ubuntu-desktop, but they are too limited for my needs, since they only are just a list of dependencies (and recommendations, which can be ignored per system). I know there are ways of 'cloning' systems, but many times systems don't need to be exactly the same, and after cloning, systems may wander off in different directions. I would like to have some tool/collection of scripts to be able to diff/apply system/packaging related stuff. It should be able to have a branching/merging workflow like git. let's call it 'debdiff' example (just a brainfart): (after installing a basic system) - (un)install some packages - reconfigure some debconf settings. - manually edit some files in /etc > debdiff --- installed the following packages build-essential (manual) kdepim (manual) kdepimlibs (automatic) --- uninstalled the following packages ... ... --- changed to manual ... ... --- changed to auto ... ... --- changed debconf settings: adduser - system wide readable home directories: false Xorg-base - who can start X: console_users_only --- diffs to config files ... ... well, you get the picture. > debdiff save 'basic kde' > debdiff no changes > debdiff list (0) ubuntu clean install (1) paranoid system settings (2) basic kde (3) non-packaged, local changes > debdiff export 'basic kde' > scp 'basic kde.debdiff' othermachine: (on othermachine) > debdiff apply 'basic kde' or comparing entire systems: > debdiff export > scp myhostname-200902100802.debdiff othermachine: (on othermachine) > debdiff compare myhostname-200902100802.debdiff --- diffs in paranoid system settings: package 'apparmor-profiles' is not installed debconf setting 'shadow passwords' - true + false -- branch 'basic kde' is not merged on this system Well, I think this is enough mockup-session for now :) Of course there are some problems to work out, and I probably forgot some essential stuff. I would just like to know if there's anything close to the process I described. If not, what would be needed to get something off the ground? Basically I think tools like git are very good at merging/diffing, and the de-centralized approach is well suited for configuring individual systems, yet have some 'central' repositories to merge from. What is missing is a textual representation of apt/dpkg/debconf's state though. A first step would be to just be able to diff total system states (so no applying/saving of state), so I can manually change stuff I need. After that, some way to 'package' these diffs and apply them elsewhere would be a next step. Anyway, I would like to hear anyone's opinion on this subject and tools/tricks that are already available that might be useful. If I get enough feedback I might start implementing something. Have a nice day, Mathijs
