Wisdom of automating upgrades

[Stephen Liu]

Hi folks,

This is an interesting topic.

> On Tue, 8 Jun 2004, Peter Risdon wrote:
> 
> > The main cost of having computers for most
> companies lies not in
> > software or hardware, but in support. I have been
> pondering the wisdom
> > of automating the upgrade process, so that sources
> are cvsup'ed nightly
> > and make buildworld buildkernel etc and
> portupgrade happen overnight
> > maybe once a week or month - and perhaps every day
> a security fix is
> > announced.
> >
> > Windows and Mac users are accustomed to automatic
> software updates on
> > server products as well as desktops, so there is a
> competitive issue
> > here. I've persuaded a number of companies to
> switch to FreeBSD and want
> > to ensure the commercial logic of doing so is as
> complete as possible.
> >
> > cvsup'ing overnight is routine and fine.
> >
> > The make build/install stuff seems a bit more
> delicate. I'm happy that I
> > have figured out how to automate this, but not
> _whether_ I should do so.
> > I am of course only considering tracking RELENG_4
> at this stage.
> >
> > Ports are perhaps more likely to be problematic
> (though less likely to
> > be a blocker to remote fixing than a failure to
> boot). Having said that,
> > deprecation of versions and ports is fairly rare
> and keeping track of a
> > small group in common use is feasible.
> >
> > I'd be grateful for any input on this. I can
> picture waking up to find
> > that every machine I administrate is
> simultaneously *#!$%ed one morning.
> > On the other hand, I like to provide the best
> value I can for clients
> > and at the moment I have to charge for my time
> whenever an upgrade is
> > necessary.
> >
> You may want to have a look at freebsd-update. Its a
> binary updater,
> Client/Server config, the server code and info on
> what it is, is available
> from http://www.daemonology.net/freebsd-update/
> and the client is in ports.

Is there a way updating all installed ports
automatically wheneven the server/workstation is
booted and connected to Internet, similar to ntp
synchronizing the clock.

B.R.
Stephen Liu

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