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: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org