Why not just use a cron job to commit any changed files in /etc? Or, as I have done to deal with tinydns's data files, I created a bash script called tinydnsedit, which lives in /sbin (so you have to be root to use it) which calls EDITOR to edit the data file, then when I exit the editor, the script compiles tinydns's datafiles as well as a few other DNS related tasks (checking for dead domains and dupes, etc.) and exits.
Is there a reason a similar script, couldn't open the file you wish to edit, then commit the change to an SVN repo. Couple that with a cron job to automatically commit any changed files and it would seem to me you're ready to go. :] ~k On Mon, 2009-08-17 at 14:34 -0400, Stanley Brinkerhoff wrote: > > 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) > > >
