Hylton Conacher (ZR1HPC) wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I would like to clear my understanding up on the opensuse software
> management side.
> 
> After the distro is first installed, and provided no online updates have
> been done during the install, there will normally be a requirement to
> obtain the latest software versions of the installed packages.
> 
> To do so opensuse makes use of software repositories which are similar
> to Windows Update sources, although far more error resistant. These
> software repositories are accessible by the YAST software tool and need
> to be defined in the installation sources under YAST.
> 

Not for security updates, just software management repositories. Yast
will check for security update sites and give you the option of which to
use.

Yast->software management gives you the ability to 'update' all packages
when a newer version is posted regardless of whether it is security
related or not. For software management see:

http://en.opensuse.org/Add_Package_Repositories_to_YaST

http://en.opensuse.org/Additional_YaST_Package_Repositories

> As an example let us assume I have just installed an opensuse  system
> with OpenOffice.org,Thunderbird and Firefox. Other applications have
> been installed but I will let the normal system updates take care of those.
> 
> I add a general installation source
> http://opensuse.oorg/pub/opensuse/update/10.2 to take care of the
> general system health, security updates.
> I would however like to stay on the bleeding edge of the opensuse
> stable/tested software for Mozilla Thunderbird/Firefox and OO.org.
> 
> I see that there is a mirror called
> http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/<package name>/STABLE/10.2/
> where <package name> could be the name of the application ie Firefox,
> OpenOffice or Thunderbird.
> 
> Do I add the http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/<package
> name>/STABLE/10.2/ repository and will having it ensure that the latest
> opensuse stable releases will prompt me to update via opensuseupdater or
> will the initial update source I added cater for all package updates?

Not sure about the opensuseupdater function, but all else is correct. In
yast->software management you can select update all packages and get a
list of all software updates availabe.

> 
> If I load a package that is not normally included in the DVD, but is in
> RPM format and has an update section on one of te mirrors, do I go and
> search for that update repository?
> 

No, with a few exceptions, the links above provide you with a pretty
thorough list of the repositories available. You can manually add Samba,
and some others, but with a fairly complete install of bleeding edge
10.2 stuff, I have found that the listed repositories do a fairly
complete job of keeping you updated.

If you really want to stay on the bleading-bleading edge, and are
feeling adventurous, choose yast->System Update.

> Confused about the myriad of  installation sources/mirrors and package
> rpm sources. And I have not as yet found anything on the net but would
> appreciate pointers to learning more ie RTFMing :)
> 
> TIA
> Hylton

You have it 99% right.

Yast->Online Update  =  Security updates/recommended updates
Yast->Software Mgmt  =  add/remove or update to all newer packages
Yast->System Update  =  Bleeding edge kernel, etc. courtesy of Jan
Englehardt.


Great system that works very well 99.5% of the time. This list is for
the other 0.5%.


-- 
David C. Rankin, J.D., P.E.
Rankin Law Firm, PLLC
510 Ochiltree Street
Nacogdoches, Texas 75961
(936) 715-9333
(936) 715-9339 fax
www.rankinlawfirm.com
-- 
To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Reply via email to