dispatch-conf
The dispatch-conf utility is used on Gentoo to manage configuration file updates. It allows the user to review (and accept) changes on the files and integrates with rcs to allow for version-controlled configuration file management.
Feature: RCS Integration
When dispatch-conf is configured to integrate with rcs, it will store all changes in /etc/config-archive.
Administrators can then view the differences using the rcs utilities like rlog as well as roll-back changes using co. The rcs utilities work with file locking itself, so the moment you want to use it in your administrative tasks, understand that:
- dispatch-conf only stores the changes made when the package suggests to alter the file. Changes you made afterwards are not registered yet
- when you check out a file, rcs will want to write the file to the file system, so make sure you backup your existing file first, or work with standard output (see later)
- if you want to check in a file, you first need to take a lock on said file. Also, make sure you opt not to remove the working file
To view the commit history on /etc/conf.d/udev:
user $ rlog /etc/config-archive/etc/conf.d/udev,v
RCS file: /etc/config-archive/etc/conf.d/udev,v
Working file: udev
head: 1.1
branch:
locks: strict
access list:
symbolic names:
keyword substitution: kv
total revisions: 2; selected revisions: 2
description:
Archived config file.
----------------------------
revision 1.1
date: 2011/06/15 18:14:59; author: root; state: Exp;
branches: 1.1.1;
dispatch-conf update.
----------------------------
revision 1.1.1.1
date: 2011/06/15 18:14:59; author: root; state: Exp; lines: +3 -2
dispatch-conf update.
=============================================================================
If you want to roll back to a particular version, a simple way to do so is to check out a previous version:
root # cp udev udev.orig
root # co -p -r1.1.1.1 /etc/config-archive/etc/conf.d/udev,v > udev
etc/config-archive/etc/conf.d/udev,v --> standard output
revision 1.1.1.
After making your final changes (you can use the backup udev.orig to merge any changes made later), check in the file again:
root # co -p -l /etc/config-archive/etc/conf.d/udev,vEdit the file, and finally check in the changes:
root # ci -l /etc/config-archive/etc/conf.d/udev,v
/etc/config-archive/etc/conf.d/udev,v <-- udev
new revision: 1.2; previous revision: 1.1
enter log message, terminated with single '.' or end of file:
>> Merged changes for persistant rules
>> .
done
