Date: Wed, 09 Jun 2004 00:08:52 +0900 From: Luke Kearney <lukek@meibin.net> To: Stephen Liu <satimis@yahoo.com> Cc: FreeBSD Question List <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: Wisdom of automating upgrades Message-ID: <20040609000728.DFA3.LUKEK@meibin.net> In-Reply-To: <20040608150231.84715.qmail@web40304.mail.yahoo.com> References: <20040608144433.D31793@unsane.co.uk> <20040608150231.84715.qmail@web40304.mail.yahoo.com>
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On Tue, 8 Jun 2004 23:02:31 +0800 (CST) Stephen Liu <satimis@yahoo.com> spake thus: > Hi folks, > > This is an interesting topic. > > > On Tue, 8 Jun 2004, Peter Risdon wrote: > > > > > The main cost of having computers for most > > companies lies not in > > > software or hardware, but in support. I have been > > pondering the wisdom > > > of automating the upgrade process, so that sources > > are cvsup'ed nightly > > > and make buildworld buildkernel etc and > > portupgrade happen overnight > > > maybe once a week or month - and perhaps every day > > a security fix is > > > announced. > > > > > > Windows and Mac users are accustomed to automatic > > software updates on > > > server products as well as desktops, so there is a > > competitive issue > > > here. I've persuaded a number of companies to > > switch to FreeBSD and want > > > to ensure the commercial logic of doing so is as > > complete as possible. > > > > > > cvsup'ing overnight is routine and fine. > > > > > > The make build/install stuff seems a bit more > > delicate. I'm happy that I > > > have figured out how to automate this, but not > > _whether_ I should do so. > > > I am of course only considering tracking RELENG_4 > > at this stage. > > > > > > Ports are perhaps more likely to be problematic > > (though less likely to > > > be a blocker to remote fixing than a failure to > > boot). Having said that, > > > deprecation of versions and ports is fairly rare > > and keeping track of a > > > small group in common use is feasible. > > > > > > I'd be grateful for any input on this. I can > > picture waking up to find > > > that every machine I administrate is > > simultaneously *#!$%ed one morning. > > > On the other hand, I like to provide the best > > value I can for clients > > > and at the moment I have to charge for my time > > whenever an upgrade is > > > necessary. > > > > > You may want to have a look at freebsd-update. Its a > > binary updater, > > Client/Server config, the server code and info on > > what it is, is available > > from http://www.daemonology.net/freebsd-update/ > > and the client is in ports. > > Is there a way updating all installed ports > automatically wheneven the server/workstation is > booted and connected to Internet, similar to ntp > synchronizing the clock. > > B.R. > Stephen Liu in theory it should be possible to write a script that runs portupgrade and then run it once at boot time from cron but I have never done it personally. I can see some potential for disaster if it is not done with extreme care. LukeK -- Luke Kearney <lukek@meibin.net>
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