| OpenSUSE releases package manager fix |
Jun. 13, 2006
Most reviewers have found OpenSUSE 10.1 to be a great Linux distribution, except, unfortunately, for its broken package manager. This system update program was another story entirely. Now, though, SUSE has released a patch that makes life a lot easier for SUSE users.
This patch corrects many, but not all, of the SUSE package manager's problems. The package manager is the program that SUSE's administration control center, YaST, uses for adding new programs and updating old ones.
The big problem was that Novell/SUSE had replaced the backend program, which powered the older and rock-stable YOU (YaST online update), with Libzypp. This software was an attempt to bring together the best features of YOU and Ximian's libredcarpet. At the same time, it would, with ZMD (ZENworks Management Daemon), create a new system-tray notification applet, Zen-updater, and enable easier network management of system updates.
Those are all great ideas. There was only one little problem: It didn't work.
Many users couldn't update their systems or add new software without extremely long delays. Some users were simply unable to modify their systems at all with Libzypp.
Starting on June 9, though, SUSE patched the Libzypp patch manager. It now does a much better and faster job.
I've tried the fix out myself. On both my HP a250n desktop system with a 2.6 GHz Pentium IV, an NVidia GeForce4 MX 440 AGP graphics board with 64MB of DDR memory, 512MB of dual-channel DDR SDRAM, and a 120 MB Ultra DMA hard drive; and on my work laptop, a Toshiba Satellite A35-S159 with a 2.3 GHz Pentium 4 M, 512MB of RAM, and a 60GB hard drive, the patch worked well.
Of course, getting it installed in the first place was a bit of a trial.
To do it, you need to use -- you guessed it -- YOU. The automatic update system is unlikely to work. If you try it, you run straight into the Libzypp problems. Maybe it will work, maybe it won't. I'm betting it won't.
What will work is to start YaST manually via the menu. Under KDE 3.5, that would be under menu/System/YaST (Control Center).
To get to YaST, you'll need to have the system administrator password. Once there, you should already be at the Software window. If you haven't set up a local web or FTP site for your system updates, select the Online Update Configuration icon.
The default choice here is to Configure Now and to send your Hardware Profile and Optional Information to Novell.
Unlike Microsoft with its fouled-up Genuine Advantage program, you don't need to send this information, and Novell makes it clear what information you'll be sending and for what they'll be using it.
In any case, once you're done, the system will give you a brief message to the effect that you've now been set up with an update server. Now, you're ready for the actual update.
Or, if you want to set the update server manually, you can assign one to your system using the Installation Source icon on the Software window.
Go back to the main YaST Software window and select Online Update. In a short while, you'll see a listing of several programs that need security fixes and other optional updates. For this visit, however, the only program you should be updating is Libzypp.
Along the way to seeing that listing, you may get a message about the files being unsigned. If you do, just keep moving forward. For now, you can ignore that message.
Don't try to add more patches than the one essential fix. If you do, you'll run into the old version of Libzypp and all of its update troubles. And, frankly, who needs that?
Once the Libzypp patches are downloaded -- the package includes patches not only to Libzypp itself but to the related programs such as rug, a variety of YaST files, and zmd -- your system should update quickly. On my systems, the update process took about a minute.
Unlike most Linux updates, you will need to reboot your system after installing this particular patch.
Now, you'll be ready to make the rest of your updates and patches. Personally, since I was there to patch my system anyway, I went right back to Online Update and grabbed all the other patches.
That's when I discovered that the update system still has problems. For example, my software update window is not being updated correctly. The display will still show programs needing to be patched, which I had already patched.
In addition, the Libzypp-powered system-tray notification applet, Zen-update, is still showing that there are no more software updates to be had, yet I know darn well that there are still a few more to add to my system.
Still, flaws and all, this repair is a vital one for all OpenSUSE 10.1 users. Here's hoping Novell, SUSE, and crew clean up the rest of the update program's problems sooner rather than later
-- Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
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