[CentOS] Centos 6.3 - which repos to use?

[James Freer]

On Wed, Jan 23, 2013 at 10:15 AM, Leon Fauster
<leonfauster at googlemail.com> wrote:
> Am 22.01.2013 um 23:03 schrieb James Freer <jessejazza3.uk at gmail.com>:
>> On Tue, Jan 22, 2013 at 9:15 PM, Johnny Hughes <johnny at centos.org> wrote:
>>> On 01/22/2013 03:01 PM, James Freer wrote:
>>>> I've just installed v6.3 as a desktop (from
>>>> Centos-6.3-i386-LiveCD.iso) and to get the hang of the Centos approach
>>>> and then hope to move on to a server. I've been using linux *buntu for
>>>> 5 years.
>>>>
>>>> Hope i don't sound like a nit but i've got a little confused with the
>>>> repos. Hoping someone would be kind enough just to clarify. This
>>>> installation is for stability whilst installing the latest versions
>>>> available.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> a] What happens if i select these? I assume that Centos6 is correct so
>>>> why these?
>>>>
>>>> In software sources i have checked;
>>>> Centos6-base, Centos6-extras, Centos6-updates
>>>>
>>>> unchecked;
>>>> Centos6-contrib, Centos6-media, Centos6-plus
>>>> i did check these three and media wouldn't, and plus wanted to suggest
>>>> installation kernel 2.6 [gulp]. Each unchecked without installing.
>>>>
>>>> Then we also have the same for 6.0, 6.1, 6.2?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> b] So which repos to use as i'm unsure where apps are i want to use
>>>> like efax (ok that's in), yumex, pyrenamer, llgal, abiword. at present
>>>> i'm not sure which repos to use other than the one's i've mentioned.
>>>>
>>>> I then started to look at the repos
>>>> http://wiki.centos.org/AdditionalResources/Repositories
>>>>
>>>> Centos extras and plus -- are these the same as above?
>>>> CS/GFS, Centos testing, Fast track, debuginfo, contrib, CR - would
>>>> seem not applicable to me.
>>>>
>>>> 3rd party repos
>>>> rpmforge (DAG), and EPEL seem likely
>>>> other repos seem likely to replace core packages which wouldn't be applicable.
>>>> Google RPM gets a "use with care". I used the google browser on *buntu
>>>> from their website with no problems so i was wondering what the
>>>> problem would be and whether to use this repoo or the website. The
>>>> fact that a maintainer has made this repo suggests a reason rather
>>>> than just convenience.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> c] Could one just use pkgs.org to install from?
>>>>
>>>> My google "centos abiword" threw up yet another repo 'puias' and this
>>>> has the latest Abiword version 2.8.6.
>>>> http://pkgs.org/centos-6-rhel-6/puias-i386/abiword-2.8.6-3.puias6.i686.rpm.html
>>>> I could just install from pkgs.org/centos-6 it would seem? Point is
>>>> the repos are maintained by an expert rather than folk just
>>>> downloading.
>>>>
>>>> I was then confused further by this
>>>> http://miles.isb.bj.edu.cn/2012/03/09/how-to-install-abiword-on-centos-6-x64/
>>>> One needs to add epal and rpmforge just for abiword? Surely the
>>>> dependencies would be in the same repo
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I'm sure all is quite simple really but i'd be grateful for the
>>>> guidance before i mess up an installation.
>>>
>>> puias is another rebuild of RHEL code (like CentOS .. but a different
>>> project) ... they also just changed their name to Springdale Linux:
>>>
>>> http://springdale.math.ias.edu/
>>>
>>> WRT recommended repos (that also explains what extras is, centosplus is,
>>> etc):
>>>
>>> http://wiki.centos.org/AdditionalResources/Repositories
>>>
>>> Basically, for almost everything I need, I can get it from CentOS, EPEL,
>>> and maybe RPMForge.
>>>
>>> As far as the distro is concerned, CentOS-6 is the distro and the point
>>> releases are basically just point in time freezes to generate new
>>> install media.  You will always get to the latest version of CentOS-6
>>> (currently 6.3 and updates to that) by doing "yum update"
>>>
>>> CR is a way to "point release" updates about a week faster, we release
>>> the RPMS when they are ready, into CR and then we make ISOs out of them
>>> and release the next version.  It usually takes 5-10 days to make the
>>> ISOs, test them and seed them.
>>
>> puias... sorry i overlooked that. Clear enough now. I'll use the epel
>> and rpmforge repos and see how i get on.


Hi folks

> i do not recommend to use this two repos simultaniuous (or use priorities!).
> LF

hmmm - well what is one supposed to do? I've got EPEL installed fine
but that doesn't have abiword, pyrenamer and some of the the other...
fairly standard apps. I turned to Centos after Fedora has proved to be
a bit dodgy. Centos along with debian are supposed to be the TWO main
community distros. If rpmforge shouldn't be installed (as you've
advised) it seems i need to look at another distro. The advice is to
stay with a distro's developer packages and only use other repo if one
really has to. I can only assume that Centos really is for Server use
rather than desktop... i was just hoping to use it as a desktop before
moving onto the server route.

james