Re: [linux-security] supported distributions

[Pete Lypkie <plypkie@sfu.ca>]

There's no need for debian files to be on a mountable file-system.  Debian 
has been planned around network access for the packages, and can be done 
through safer methods like http.  Debian users are used to the process of 
doing "apt-get update" to fetch a file called Packages.gz from the mirror, 
which lists available packages, and then "apt-get install foobar" to 
install a specific package called foobar, or "apt-get upgrade" to get any 
newer versions that are available.  I believe there are many tools 
available to assist with various mirror tasks....years ago i used one 
called "apt-move" but i'm not sure if it's still around, or the best tool.

There seems to be one called "debmirror" written by Joey Hess (one of the 
most respected debian developers for years).

I apologize for not having more time to assist, but a quick search turned 
up this page:   http://www.debian.org/mirror/ftpmirror

I'll try to ask around to see if someone in the sfu linux user group has 
more info, or time to help.

-- 

	- Pete Lypkie


On Mon, Dec 08, 2003 at 08:17:17PM -0800, Martin Siegert wrote:
> Dear List Subscribers,
> 
> after a lot of discussion on various mailing lists (I particularly watched
> the discussion on the Beowulf mailing list that is most relevant for
> research computing on clusters) RedHat has now revealed its pricing scheme
> for educational institutions:
> http://www.redhat.com/solutions/industries/education/site/
> For SFU's Beowulf cluster alone such a license would cost about $7500 US;
> a site license would cost in excess of $10000 US.
> This ends the dicussion whether we could support a commercial RedHat
> distribution: we cannot. (You may also ask why we should, as long as
> freely downloadable distributions are still available).
> 
> Therefore, the plan is as follows:
> 
> 1) As of now SuSE Linux 9.0 is available from sphinx in
>    /vol/vol0/distrib/suse/9.0
> 
>    I have not rewritten check-rpms to work with that distribution, but I
>    will do so soon.
> 
> 2) As of Jan 1, 04 there will be a directory
>    /vol/vol0/distrib/sfu/7.3
>    be available on sphinx. This directory will not carry a full distribution
>    (i.e., you cannot install a machine from that directory). This directory
>    will contain updates backported for RedHat 7.3. The RedHat 7.3
>    distribution will still be available in /vol/vol0/distrib/redhat/7.3,
>    but it will be frozen at the state of Dec. 31, 03.
>    [we would like to provide a full distribution in 
>    /vol/vol0/distrib/sfu/7.3, however, due to RedHat's license restrictions
>    this would require stripping all RedHat logos and trademarks out of
>    RedHat 7.3 rpms, which requires a significant amount of time].
> 
> 3) The /vol/vol0/distrib/redhat/7.1 and /vol/vol0/distrib/redhat/7.2
>    directories will disappear on Jan. 1, 04 at the latest: due to
>    constraints on disk space we would like to hear from the community
>    whether these two versions are still required - if not they may be
>    removed within days. 
>    The /vol/vol0/distrib/redhat/9.0 directory will disappear on May 1, 04.
> 
> 4) We are planning to setup a Fedora Linux 1.0 distribution in
>    /vol/vol0/distrib/fedora/1.0 as soon as time permits.
> 
> 5) We would like to setup a Debian distribution
>    (/vol/vol0/distrib/debian/3.0). This will require significant amount
>    of time. Information from the community about how to setup such a
>    distribution would be appreciated.
> 
> Cheers,
> Martin
> 
> -- 
> Martin Siegert
> Manager, Research Services
> WestGrid Site Manager
> Academic Computing Services                        phone: (604) 291-4691
> Simon Fraser University                            fax:   (604) 291-4242
> Burnaby, British Columbia                          email: siegert@sfu.ca
> Canada  V5A 1S6