Topic: enabling SMEContribs repository

[uniqsys]

Could someone please help me understand how to permanently enable the SMEContribs repository so it will show up in the server manager panel as an available repo?  I was able to do this on a 7.3 server but now that we are at SME 7.4, I don't understand how to do it.

Thanks.

PS   I would like it enabled so that any contirbs updates that I have installed will prompt me for updating automatically instead of manually doing it every once in a while.  I have looked on the Wiki and forums and can't seem to find what I need.

[cactus]

Could someone please help me understand how to permanently enable the SMEContribs repository so it will show up in the server manager panel as an available repo?  I was able to do this on a 7.3 server but now that we are at SME 7.4, I don't understand how to do it.

Thanks.

PS   I would like it enabled so that any contirbs updates that I have installed will prompt me for updating automatically instead of manually doing it every once in a while.  I have looked on the Wiki and forums and can't seem to find what I need.

Although not advised you will have to modify the database parameters manually:

Code: [Select]

db yum_repositories setprop smecontribs Visible yes status enabled
signal-event yum-modifyNote: commands may be case sensitive at least Visible is written with a capital V on my test setup.

Edit: changed command to have database commands reflected in the configuration files, this one should be suitable for all 7.x versions.

[uniqsys]

Thank you.

However,

Although not advised...

I don't understand why it is not advised. If you have contribs installed and the contribs repo enabled and visible, won't new contribs updates be included in the cron check for updates and notify you of them?  Then you can chose to install or not. If smecontribs does not show up on the software install panel then no upgrade notifications are sent.  At least it seems to work that way on the upgraded 7.3 to 7.4 server I am running.  Please clarify if I am wrong.

Thanks again.

[cactus]

However,  I don't understand why it is not advised. If you have contribs installed and the contribs repo enabled and visible, won't new contribs updates be included in the cron check for updates and notify you of them?

Yes, but...

Then you can chose to install or not.

That depens, if you use the default configuration and server-manager, you do not have the choice which packages to install, it is either all or nothing then.

If smecontribs does not show up on the software install panel then no upgrade notifications are sent.  At least it seems to work that way on the upgraded 7.3 to 7.4 server I am running.  Please clarify if I am wrong.

True, but the risk is in the amount of review that is being done on contribs. All core changes are checked if they really fix the issue, without having nasty side effects, for contribs this process is sometimes done, but most of the times not.
The chance of installing a contrib that might damage or wreck your system is a lot higher than for core packages.

[uniqsys]

OK. I understand the caution.  But then how would you know when an upgrade is ready for a contrib that you have installed?

[chris burnat]

OK. I understand the caution.  But then how would you know when an upgrade is ready for a contrib that you have installed?

Check from time to time which contrib offers upgrade and keep an eye on the Bugtracker and the Forum for feedback.  If an upgrade creates problems, it will be reported - hopefully.  I know, this is not ideal, but in reality it works pretty well.  All contribs are maintained by good people doing it for free, so waiting a little is a small inconvenience. 

Addentum: for myself, I would never upgrade anything on a production box without testing it first on a test server or a low priority box.   Probably over the top, but good insurance.