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Package configuration at installtime (was Re: Debian VS. Red Hat)



Jonathan D. Proulx wrote:

> Debian allows for configuration during package installation, so you
> don't have to poke around so much to figure outwhat needs tweeking to
> make your nifty ne app working.

This is a great feature and (besides automated upgrades) one of the main
reasons I started using Debian.  I don't want to read the man page for
every little piece of software I install package configuration at install
time often enables me to skip man pages.  I love this feature, but I also
hate it!

At work we use almost exclusively RedHat because of the kickstart install
option.  I can make a kickstart file, put configuration information in the
post install (of the kickstart) and with one press of the button, RedHat is
installed, configured and running.  That is not exaggerating (for those who
haven't done it, press enter at the boot prompt, it installs ... press
enter when it's done and it reboots and works.

It would be extremely useful if dpkg had a --default-config option or
something like that ... some way to ensure that packages install with
absolutely no prompting.  Is there any way to do this now?  If there were
it would be very easy to script a Debian install similar to kickstart.

Don't get me wrong, I love Debian it just doesn't let me do the mass,
reproducible installs like kickstart.  I know about the replicator package
but that from what I recall it needs a preconfigured system to duplicate.

Have I missed something or is there a way to do this ... it would obviously
need major hacks to the boot floppies but it seems to me that Debian would
fail even at the package install level because of the interaction.  Any
ideas?

Thanks,

Fraser



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