[Fwd: [Discuss] Debconf as an administration tool]
Comments appreciated.
-----Forwarded Message-----
> From: Bruce Perens <bruce@perens.com>
> To: discuss@lists.userlinux.com
> Subject: [Discuss] Debconf as an administration tool
> Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2004 15:50:16 -0700
>
> As far as I understand this, not having investigated in great depth:
>
> 1. Debconf can configure most anything that is set up by a Debian
> package to the point that it works. But some more detailed configuration
> is not done through it.
> 2. Debconf is database driven. The default database is a flat file, but
> others can be substituted.
> 3. Debconf works with graphical and textual front-ends. Web front-ends
> may be possible.
> 4. Debconf is internationalized.
> 5. Debconf is currently set up to administer one system at a time.
> Currently it doesn't do clusters.
> 6. Some Debian developers have resisted making Debconf into more of a
> generalized system configuration tool, for reasons unclear to me.
>
> I would hope that any configuration tool we standardize upon could drive
> debconf.
>
> Thanks
>
> Bruce
>
> Matthew Davidson wrote:
>
> > Tom von Schwerdtner wrote:
> >
> >> Are you suggesting we write a networked front-end to the Debian
> >> configuration system? Does one already exist?
> >
> >
> > No, just responding to the more general question of admin tools, and
> > the assersion that configuring Debian means editing text files.
> > Sorry, I'm really just running off at the mouth, which is why I
> > renamed the Subject line.
> >
> >> If you are and if there isn't, then we still need Webmin. I'm all
> >> for something better , but until something is better, we need a
> >> tangible solution.
> >
> >
> > To address the original question: I'm probably the last person to
> > comment on what professional sysadmins expect from their tools, and in
> > the absence of another candidate for a web-based solution, then Webmin
> > may have to be it.
> >
> > The problem is that an increasing number of configuration files in
> > Debian are preceeded by a comment saying something like 'Do not under
> > any circumstances edit this file by hand, use [program x] instead.'
> > And of course Webmin and other third party tools are not going to
> > observe that directive (unless the Webmin package maintainer is
> > practically rewriting it), which may cause problems.
> >
> > Personally, remote admin means running local admin tools over SSH,
> > VNC, or whatever ('gdmflexiserver --xnest' is quite cute). If Webmin
> > fills a niche that this approach doesn't than yes, you're right, we
> > need a web interface on top of the Debian infrastructure. In the
> > meantime Webmin may be an acceptable stopgap for some purposes, but it
> > does an end-run around the Debian configuration system, which is
> > likely to to cause problems for system administrators the long run.
> >
> > Matthew.
> >
> > --
> > Please avoid sending me Word or PowerPoint attachments.
> > (Save as HTML or RTF)
> > See http://www.fsf.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Discuss mailing list
> > Discuss@lists.userlinux.com
> > http://lists.userlinux.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/discuss
> > List administrator: bruce@perens.com 510-526-1165
> > Perens LLC / 1563 Solano Ave. / PMB 349 / Berkeley CA 94707 / USA
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> Discuss mailing list
> Discuss@lists.userlinux.com
> http://lists.userlinux.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/discuss
> List administrator: bruce@perens.com 510-526-1165
> Perens LLC / 1563 Solano Ave. / PMB 349 / Berkeley CA 94707 / USA
>
>
Reply to: