[CentOS] Centos 6.3 - which repos to use?

Thu Jan 24 21:27:56 UTC 2013

On 1/24/2013 3:27 PM, James Freer wrote:
> 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
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I use some things from both epel and rpmforge on many systems. However, 
I have used the yum confs to enable what I need from one and exclude 
everything else. Then if I'm worried about the other having what I'm 
pulling in from the one, I disable that in its conf file. You should 
read up on the power of yum where you can set priorities, do exclusions 
and such.

Yes, you can get into trouble if you add 2 without any control. For 
instance, something like clamav. One repo might set it up with the 
username of clam while the other might use clamav. As the updates come 
down, suddenly it dies and you have to figure out that the logs are 
owned by the wrong user. This is just one example of many things that 
can go wrong with mixed repos.

-- 
John Hinton
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