I had thought about that, but I'm not sure that it would know about the new packages. I looked at the 'packages' file on the install media (/media/cdrom/suse/setup/descr/packages), and it looks like its keeping track of package versions and patch numbers. I think this would be successful if there was a tool that could automatically regenerate (or build) this package file that I could run each time I added a new package. I don't know if periodic updates to this file would confuse the package manager or not? (It may keep a cached version of this 'packages' file locally so it knows what media is needed for which package...) SuSE's new (as of SuSE 8.1 / United Linux 1.0) disto/package layout is documented here: /usr/share/doc/packages/yast2-packagemanager/media-descr.htm Does anybody know of any tools that can take a repository of rpm files and automatically build these description files. Surly SuSE uses such a tool in the release of their own distros. Is it freely available? Thanks, - Lowell

-----Original Message----- From: Carlos E. R. [mailto:robin1.listas@tiscali.es] Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2003 3:59 PM To: suse-linux-e@suse.com Subject: RE: [SLE] Maintaining a local install/YOU mirror

The 03.02.26 at 10:27, Alleman, Lowell wrote:

...

I've also wanted to do this but have never found an acceptable alternative. To me, It reminds me of installing NT 4.0: (FYI, this was before my 'conversion'.) Install NT 4.0, Install 2 or 3 service packs, Install IE 4, Install IE 5, ...... (Well, at least you don't have to reboot with SuSE... but you still have to run YOU several times just to get the most recent stuff)

I have an idea that "perhaps" could work. You would need to install from a local ftp server, with one trick: copy the updated rpms on top of the old one on the mirror.

Remember that the update/patch tree contains *patch.rpm files (that need the original rpm applied first) and also the complete new rpm file: this is the one that should overwrite the old one.

MIND: I have not tested this, and I don't know if it works; but if it does, tell us O:-)

...

To me, it just seems like there should be a better way! It make no sense to install OLD, BROKEN, or INSECURE packages, when I already have the updates downloaded and shared.

Space... the patches is one CD only. Rewriting/retesting Yast, perhaps :-?

-- Cheers, Carlos Robinson

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