Topic: Where are we at with SME 8

[darz82]

Hi,

Just wanted to get an update on SME 8 and where things are at.

Are there still lots of bugs?
Do we need feed back on bugs resolved?
Is the project still alive?

I'm interested the know because CentOS is slowly creeping up to support ''end of life'' until Feb 29, 2012

As well as that more and more users are using Windows 7 for there workstations, so joining Win7 to a SME7 domain cant be accomplished.

Look forward to hearing back from you.
Cheers

[gregswallow]

SME 8 Status:
http://bugs.contribs.org/report.cgi?x_axis_field=bug_status&y_axis_field=target_milestone&product=SME+Server+8.X&format=table&action=wrap
You can help by verifying the resolved bugs.  Take a look at some that have been verified to see what that entails.

See here for an unsupported way to install newer samba rpm's to SME7 for Windows7 support:
http://wiki.contribs.org/Windows_7_Support#Adding_Windows_7_Support

File a bug report against SME 7.x if you think support should be added (ie, samba rpm's upgraded).  I searched but only found a bug report for SME8 beta regarding Windows7 support.  Never mind, found this bug report - http://bugs.contribs.org/show_bug.cgi?id=5423 which is the source of the wiki instructions.  Keep an eye on that bug report to see if anything changes.

[purvis]

we at our locations do not use domain logins, we use the more simpler "net use f: \\server\directory".
i do not think that would be a problem for all windows users, or would it.
fyi we are not running windows 7 and only windows vista on machines for accessing the internet only.

[idp_qbn]

I notice from Greg Swallows post that first link points to a Bug Table which lists the following SME versions:
 8.07b, 8.08b and 8.0rc1 (with some bug entries for each.)

Are the ISOs available for these version or are they just 8.06b + updates?

Cheers
Ian

[cactus]

I notice from Greg Swallows post that first link points to a Bug Table which lists the following SME versions:
 8.07b, 8.08b and 8.0rc1 (with some bug entries for each.)

Those are preliminary roadmaps (which BTW should read 8.0b7, 8.0b8 and 8.0rc1). Latest availbale ISO should be 8.0b6 + updates.

[#99]

Why is it that we never get a simple answer to a simple question?
SME8 has been in beta 6 for OVER A YEAR NOW!!!!
Who makes these decisions?
Is there a project lead? If not, that might explain a lot. If yes, can he/she come out and quantify the steps required?

If anyone asks, they are immediately put back in their box with "you should help testing if you want it faster" and still no answer as to current status or roadmap. At the same time, there is so little help in testing and all sorts of limiting factors (such as the fact that the latest betas are not available as ISOs, the update paths are very blurred and there are no fundamental tools - such as PHPmyAdmin or similar tool without which it is impossible to access the MySQL database engine due to the password being hidden). I spent a lot of time and effort and got nowhere for lack of guidance.

What does this mean? "Those are preliminary roadmaps (which BTW should read 8.0b7, 8.0b8 and 8.0rc1). Latest availbale ISO should be 8.0b6 + updates." In what way is beta 8 any more PRELIMINARY than beta 6???

"It will be ready when it is ready" is not good enough any more bearing in mind the number of users that are depending on this as well as the fact that many of the current components (such as PHP) are so much out of date that most apps won't run on them.
This is a GREAT project but if we are not going to be able to count on it, please let us know NOW.

I appreciate and am humbled by the quality and quantity of effort that has already been put into this project. At the same time, if you have undertaken to support SMEs, treating them as beggars is just not right IMO. I truly hope for a meaningful response. Thank you in advance.

[Stefano]

Why is it that we never get a simple answer to a simple question?
SME8 has been in beta 6 for OVER A YEAR NOW!!!!
Who makes these decisions?
Is there a project lead? If not, that might explain a lot. If yes, can he/she come out and quantify the steps required?

If anyone asks, they are immediately put back in their box with "you should help testing if you want it faster" and still no answer as to current status or roadmap. At the same time, there is so little help in testing and all sorts of limiting factors (such as the fact that the latest betas are not available as ISOs, the update paths are very blurred and there are no fundamental tools - such as PHPmyAdmin or similar tool without which it is impossible to access the MySQL database engine due to the password being hidden). I spent a lot of time and effort and got nowhere for lack of guidance.

What does this mean? "Those are preliminary roadmaps (which BTW should read 8.0b7, 8.0b8 and 8.0rc1). Latest availbale ISO should be 8.0b6 + updates." In what way is beta 8 any more PRELIMINARY than beta 6???

"It will be ready when it is ready" is not good enough any more bearing in mind the number of users that are depending on this as well as the fact that many of the current components (such as PHP) are so much out of date that most apps won't run on them.
This is a GREAT project but if we are not going to be able to count on it, please let us know NOW.

I appreciate and am humbled by the quality and quantity of effort that has already been put into this project. At the same time, if you have undertaken to support SMEs, treating them as beggars is just not right IMO. I truly hope for a meaningful response. Thank you in advance.

sorry but...
<flame mode on>
as someone already told some time ago, you can leave anytime you want.. we will refund you the money you payed
</flame mode off>

while someone else answer you, please tell us what you did in the past and in the present for this community..

thank you in advance

[gregswallow]

Why is it that we never get a simple answer to a simple question?

Don't say 'we' like you speak for more than yourself, anonymously at that.  It has been answered...The CVS, bug tracker and the devinfo list are public information.  That's where development happens.  Shad builds the iso's and runs the servers.  There was discussion recently on the devinfo list about what bugs are blocking RC1.  I don't think there are too many, check yourself in the bug tracker, sort by milestone.  I think you could say RC1 could be the 8.0 release, unless there is something major that comes up in testing shortly after.

I think you missed something basic.  If you log in as root, mysql does not require a password.  And there is a contrib for phpmyadmin, because not everyone wants or needs it.  Google 'phpmyadmin exploit' for a few reasons why.

Also, there are 1000's using SME8 beta.  I believe 8b7 was just built to test a change in the installer, but you are right it was not released.  A further beta or release candidate has not been built as far as I know, but most of the rpms that go into it may already be available in updates and updates-testing.  The milestone in the bug tracker is used as a target as when that bug should be fixed, ie, they should be fixed in RC1, not that there is an RC1 release.

So, who makes the decisions?  You do.  Use SME 7 or SME 8 beta, or use neither.

[cactus]

I spent a lot of time and effort and got nowhere for lack of guidance.

I doubt that statement is true, for when you would have looked through the MySQL section in the FAQ, you should have easily found this.

Also searching for "mysql login" on this domain yields the MySQL section from the FAQ as the first result.

[Mjohnson]

Hi SME folks...

Haven't been here is a long while.  I was surprised to see no new releases yet.  Looks like the same issues are still showing up in the forums regarding release dates, all issues to the bug tracker, search you newbie, don't complain like you paid for the software.... 

Sorry to see that.

I have been a happy camper with Ubuntu as my server, though I do miss AFFA.  That is really the bomb of a back up procedure for small independent dummies like me.  I am contentedly using rsync, but AFFA is the stuff of dreams.

Good luck.  Hope you get it all sorted. 

MJ

[gregswallow]

Hi SME folks...

Hi MJ.  Just curious, how would you have responded to #99's post?   When someone says to a group of software developers and other people helping verify bug fixes that are all volunteering their time 'It's ready when it's ready is not good enough' what would you say is the correct response?    Maybe no response would be best...  I'm not surprised though an inflammatory question sometimes gets inflammatory responses, and everyone wants to get the last word, you and myself included  

I would suggest to you and to everyone, that if you think a post or a response to someone's post goes over the line by being rude, in a way that would turn people away from using the forums and using SME Server that they click the report to moderator link beside the offending/offensive post. 

[CharlieBrady]

Is there a project lead?

No.

If anyone asks, they are immediately put back in their box with "you should help testing if you want it faster" and still no answer as to current status or roadmap.

Don't complain when you get a correct answer. The status is all visible in the bug tracker.

[stephdl]

I do not want to feed the troll of Mr 99, which certainly has not the courage to sign his message ....

but I just want to ask a question to  charlie

Is this a good thing that the project haven't a leader, and why we do not designate a "chief" ?

[CharlieBrady]

Is this a good thing that the project haven't a leader,

Everyone can form their own opinion of that.

... and why we do not designate a "chief" ?

Who is "we"?

[stephdl]

Who is "we"?

all the user of this great distribution.

[calisun]

I think the issue here is that even tho the developers are working with Beta7, most users go to the main page of contribs.org and they see that Beta6 is still available for download. This seems to them like there has been no progress made since August 2010.

What I think could resolve this misunderstanding is if there was a news box somewhere on the front page of contribs.org. It could be on monthly basis only, a quick news update would show for an example # of bugs reported, # of bugs fixed, any milestones accomplished, it would be a place where it could be noted about Beta7 being released for developer testing only, it could also include special praise for great work for developers. Nothing long, few sentences.
Basically any quick blurbs to keep people informed. And people would be able to pull up this months and previous months news.
I know..I know that there is The CVS, bug tracker and the devinfo list, but I bet you 90% of people here never go beyond forums, where there are no progress updates, so they get frustrated.

So I bet you, quick monthly updates would calm some nerves, plus it would be a good place for developers to brag about their accomplishments and pat each other on the back.

[gregswallow]

I think the issue here is that even tho the developers are working with Beta7, most users go to the main page of contribs.org and they see that Beta6 is still available for download. This seems to them like there has been no progress made since August 2010.

That's a good point.  I updated the wiki main page:
http://wiki.contribs.org/Main_Page

Really, all the Beta7 rpms are in smeupdates-testing, so the only difference between a yum updated (with --enablerepo=smeupdates-testing) SME 8b6 install and a SME8b7 install is that the footer in the server-manager says 8.0b7, ie the smeserver-release rpm.

[mophilly]

Thanks for updating the main page.

And thanks to everyone on the team for contributing your time and expertise.

SME Server is stable, reliable, and in spite of my often inane questions, you provide a great deal of support.

I, for one, am very grateful for your efforts.

[gregswallow]

I used to be a moderator on the forums.  If I was I would close this thread, as all the relevant questions have been answered.

Lets _all_ take a deep breath and relax.

[chris burnat]

I believe that this thread has run its natural course, SME 8.0b7 is about to be released thanks to the (voluntary) work of the Devs.
Closing.