[AG-DEV] Location of AG config files

[Christoph Willing]

On 09/09/2008, at 9:49 AM, Jason Bell wrote:

> Chris
>
> Would this effect other Linux packages, such at Fedora?


Jason,

It needn't affect any other distributions - the single line change in  
the toolkit code can be implemented as a patch during the packaging  
process. Thats what I'm proposing to do for the Debian/Ubuntu packages.


A possible downside (if not applying this to all Linux packages) is  
that different Linux versions would have their config files in  
different places. Although this is completely transparent to the  
average user, it may be that if they have some sort of problem  
sometime, they may be given advice to look or do something in /etc/ 
AccessGrid3 when they should really be looking in /usr/share/ 
AccessGrid3 (or whatever) - and vice versa.


chris


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Christoph Willing [mailto:c.willing at uq.edu.au]
> Sent: Tuesday, 9 September 2008 09:38 AM
> To: Thomas D. Uram
> Cc: AG DEV
> Subject: [AG-DEV] Location of AG config files
>
> Tom,
>
> There is a problem with the Debian & Ubuntu AG packages. The revamped
> build tool mechanisms introduced early this year to accommodate
> multiple python versions on the same machine has an unfortunate side
> effect; anything under /etc is considered to be owned by a particular
> package and is removed completely during upgrades or reinstallations,
> regardless of whether another package may be using the same area.
>
> In the case of the AG installation, a number of configuration files
> are kept in directories under /etc/AccessGrid3. In particular, /etc/
> AccessGrid3/NodeServices normally contains the standard Audio & Video
> Services. However other packages may want to install services there
> too e.g. vpcscreen, aghdvic. Initial installation of these packages
> works OK but if the AG package is reinstalled or upgraded, the
> additional services are also removed.
>
> (One way around this would be to create a single mega-package of AG &
> related service packages, but I feel it would be an unsatisfying, if
> not "wrong", solution)
>
> This (new) unwanted behaviour occurs because of the special treatment
> given to files/directories under /etc, so an solution is to use a
> different location. I have done some testing using /usr/share/
> AccessGrid3 instead of /etc/AccessGrid3 as a location for the config
> files. With this new location, any number of installations,
> reinstallations etc. of the AG  & related packages can now be
> performed without any interference to each other. Introducing the new
> location is trivial - a single line patch to the toolkit code itself,
> as well as a single line change in the packaging script of each
> affected package (accessgrid3.x, vpcscreen, aghdvic, etc.)
>
>
> Since this is a Debian & Ubuntu specific problem, I don't expect that
> relocating /etc/AccessGrid3 needs to apply to all distributions
> (although it may be worth considering). However before I release any
> packages with the new file layout, do you have strong feelings about
> the proposed solution - or alternative solutions?
>
> I've cc'd to AG-DEV in case someone more conversant with Debian/
> Ubuntu Policies & packaging practices can offer advice; please chime
> in - I'm just a part-timer in this area and I'm keen to receive
> suggestions.
>
>
>
> chris
>
>
> Christoph Willing                        +617 3365 8350
> QCIF Access Grid Manager
> University of Queensland
>
>
>
>

Christoph Willing                        +617 3365 8350
QCIF Access Grid Manager
University of Queensland