I definately do that -- and it is one way to handle updated /etc files -- but there is something compelling about a Google-Doc's esque transaction log for /etc files, as well as a system that would abstract all of the various configuration files in such a way that I didn't need to know how each worked.
After configuring Tomcat via XML, other apps via INI style settings, and some YAML config files -- toss in some M4 for good measure -- one system to rule them all such as the Nokia, OSX, or other operating systems has some appeal. That being said -- it was just something that if someone knew of -- I would like to play with. I bet I could roll my own with FUSE and some Python. Stan On Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 1:30 PM, chris yarger <[email protected]> wrote: > why not set a script that after an update is made to the folder it > automatically updates the cvs? > warmest regards, > > Chris Yarger > > web: http://YargerDesigns.org > skype: cpyarger > msn: [email protected] > aim: patyarg > yahoo: christoyarg > > > ( ) ASCII ribbon campaign > X against HTML e-mail > / \ > > > > On Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 1:01 PM, Rubin Bennett <[email protected]>wrote: > >> On Mon, 2009-08-17 at 11:40 -0400, Stanley Brinkerhoff wrote: >> > All, >> > >> > While researching some power usage information for a standard PC vs an >> > appliance router (assuming that gross power savings would make an >> > appliance essentially 'free' compared to a 'free' pc that uses more >> > power), I stumbled upon the Nokia IP530. Apparently Nokia makes >> > really nice appliance firewalls (i had no idea). >> > >> > While doing some research, I found this Wikipedia article [1] >> > discussing their Linux/BSD (Depending on the rev) based operating >> > system. The short description of the "xpand" daemon sounded >> > interesting -- and I was curious. Are there any other projects out >> > there to replace /etc with a data/metabase, and provide a legacy /etc >> > emulation layer? While adding some "registry" like wizardry to Linux >> > would probably ignore some furor, having built in versioning, >> > changelogs, and other "cool stuff" that such an abstraction would >> > provide sounds interesting. >> > >> > I know Apple has some such wizardry (though, more registry like, and >> > it doesnt provide an /etc legacy layer). Are there others? >> > >> I know that there have been efforts to do something similar in a >> database (MySQL), where the database is presented similarly to a >> filesystem for storing config files and the like. I haven't checked >> recently, but it was moving slowly about a year ago if memory serves. >> >> We all know and love the Windows Registry for the hellish piece of >> architectural crap that it is, so the idea of replacing the config files >> with something like that is distinctly unattractive to most sane Unix >> and Linux admins; any replacement for /etc needs to retain the >> flexibility and backup-agnostic properties that make config files great, >> while adding the revision control and such that make then a pain in the >> arse to manage. >> >> SuSE's YaST tool tries to do something similar, but it overwrites all >> the config files with the data in it's internal database, nullifying any >> changes that a knowledgeable administrator may have made directly to the >> files themselves (i.e. it doesn't read them back in, it only writes out >> to them after a change). >> >> I've had some success with using CVS for version control on the files, >> by replacing all of the config files with symlinks to a common directory >> that I check in to CVS. >> >> The only complication in that is remembering to cvs up and cvs commit >> after each change (it's always the human element that screws up the >> works, isn't it?). >> >> Rubin >> >> > >> > >> > 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_IPSO >> -- >> Rubin Bennett >> rbTechnologies, LLC >> 80 Carleton Boulevard >> East Montpelier, VT 05651 >> >> (802)223-4448 >> http://thatitguy.com >> >> "Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too." >> Voltaire, Essay on Tolerance >> French author, humanist, rationalist, & satirist (1694 - 1778) >> > >
