[AG-DEV] Re: Location of AG config files

[Thomas D. Uram]

Chris:

What's the chance that a future change will also impact files under 
/usr/share, requiring another adjustment?  Is there any guidance from 
the debian/ubuntu community about how to adjust, or where such files 
should be placed?
> (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) 
I agree that this is not the right way to go.

Tom



On 9/8/08 6:37 PM, Christoph Willing wrote:
> 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
>
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