Topic: A (hopefully) constructive critcism

[scelestus]

I admin my family's home network, and run a little file server to simplify getting updating programs, drivers, etc. SME seems like a nice fit for it, because I like to play around with stuff, so I want a real server distro, but I don't want the bloat. My problem is installation. Since this box is well established, the drives in it are full of all our favorite music and software, backups of some personal files, the usual. Installing SME requires me to crawl into the corner of the closet this server is in, pop the panel, unplug all the storage drives, and then reverse the process once I'm finished. It really, really sucked having to do that.
 The sour taste in my mouth is from the lack of consideration for a situation like mine (having an established system, not my 'brilliant' idea to put it in a closet). I was going through the installation, quite merrily, and realized that it's going to wipe all my drives, and I just have to deal with it. I was confused. The simplicity of the installation process made that screen very surprising. This is a critical point, but it doesn't look critical. At the same time, the configuration post install, while straightforward and very easy, requires you to know what you're doing, so it seems like a contradiction. I don't understand why I, who can micromanage my server, can't tell the installer not to murder 400 gigs of drives when I just want the distro on the little one.
 Now I have things set up alright, and I really enjoy the distribution. I don't know if I'll keep it, for all sorts of silly reasons, but it won't be because I don't like SME, or because the installer rattled me like that. I just wanted to voice my concern. If it doesn't matter to anyone here, then please ignore me. Thanks for reading.

[steever]

Hey sceletus:

Before installing SME, you could use the BIOS to disable the hard drives except for the installation target.  Install SME on that hard drive, and then re-enable the other hard drives.  Then you can add them according to the howtos found in the wiki.

The best thing about SME Server, I have found, is the friendly advice you get from people on this forum...  ask someone how to do what you want and you'll get tonnes of suggestions (and most of them won't be RTFM).

I have been using SME Server since 2004.  It's a great product, and I wouldn't use anything else - now if I can just get Gutsy Edubuntu to auth against it I'd be happy.

Steve

[Boris]

you'll get tonnes of suggestions (and most of them won't be RTFM).

Most of them WILL be RTFM, as many questions are answered and explained in the manual or on the forum, so RTFM and forum search are highly encouraged.

[mmccarn]

For what it's worth, I *think* the 'wipe it out and start from scratch' approach to the SME install was established when the distro was developed by Mitel for loading VoIP boxes.  If you've got a new VoIP box, why would you want to save data?  I *do* see your point, though...

[CharlieBrady]

I was going through the installation, quite merrily, and realized that it's going to wipe all my drives, and I just have to deal with it. I was confused. The simplicity of the installation process made that screen very surprising.

If that screen was a surprise to you, then either you didn't read any documentation, or the documentation doesn't make it clear that SME server installs onto all available drives. If the latter is true, then please open a bug report.

[CharlieBrady]

For what it's worth, I *think* the 'wipe it out and start from scratch' approach to the SME install was established when the distro was developed by Mitel for loading VoIP boxes.

No, it was there from the first days of e-smith, inc, long before Mitel saved the technology from extinction (for use in loading VoIP boxes). That was back in the days of 10GB drives...

[byte]

No, it was there from the first days of e-smith, inc, [..]

And it used to have a screen which you had to type "I agree" or was it "install" was a long time ago I know that much.