[wpkg-users] Trying out package upgrades before general roll-out of package

[Robin Roevens]

Hi all

Thanks for the many reactions, and many ways to test package before using 
them in production.
I think I'm going to try the extra wpkg-dir approach described below for 
now. As I am already doing something alike for our remote VPN/Home users 
who don't want software upgrades pulled trough the already too slow VPN. 
Those clients are now manually upgraded by running WPKG from a a whole 
separate WPKG dir + software dir burnt to a DVD+RW they can take home..

The only downside I see in this approach is that, as I said before, we 
have 4 to 5 test users. meaning that the 5th user is not always a 
test-user and sometimes doesn't want to be bothered with possible unstable 
software or experimental features..(sometimes the 4th user neither) 
Meaning that he sometimes wants to test package X (less possible 
production-severe impact) but not package Y (more dangerous package), and 
that won't be possible anymore with this approach..

Best regards
Robin

wpkg-users-bounces at lists.wpkg.org wrote on 21.02.2009 11:40:33:

> [image removed] 
> 
> Re: [wpkg-users] Trying out package upgrades before general roll-outof 
package
> 
> Rainer Meier 
> 
> to:
> 
> Marco Gaiarin
> 
> 21.02.2009 11:41
> 
> Sent by:
> 
> wpkg-users-bounces at lists.wpkg.org
> 
> Cc:
> 
> wpkg-users
> 
> Hi Marco
> 
> I actually prefer another (much less "hackish" solution). I just
> configure my test-systems to use another WPKG installation (might be on
> the same share). Then you can simply upgrade the package on the
> "testbed" installation of WPKG and simply copy over the package
> definition as soon as you know it works. You can even use the same
> software directories/paths if you use the version number within the
> directory name.
> 
> For example
> %SOFTWARE% pointing to \\server\software\
> 
> Then put two versions of a program into this directory:
> \\server\software\Pidgin v.2.5.3
> \\server\software\Pidgin v.2.5.4
> 
> Now install two WPKG versions:
> 
> \\server\wpkg\wpkg.js
> \\server\wpkg\packages\pidgin.xml <-- points to Pidgin v.2.5.3
> \\server\wpkg\...
> 
> \\server\wpkg-testbed\wpkg.js
> \\server\wpkg\packages\pidgin.xml <-- upgrade test for Pidgin v.2.5.4
> \\server\wpkg<...
> 
> 
> This way you can simply test the package on your testbed machines
> (configured to use 'wpkg-testbed'). When you finished testing just copy
> pidgin.xml over to \\server\wpkg\packages\ and it will become 
productive.
> 
> This way also allows you to test new versions of wpkg.js and other
> modifications without affecting productive users.
> 
> Sometimes it's not necessary to introduce too much complexity into a
> program (wpkg.js) when there is a simple solution provided by the
> operating system already.
> 
> 
> By the way. I am thinking/workging on an extension of WPKG where it
> would be possible to have multiple versions of a package defined in the
> package database and then WPKG either selects the latest one or lets you
> specify a specific one within the profile. However I am personally not a
> friend of this solution because the solution outlined above gives you
> more flexibility like full wpkg.js separation as well as diffetent
> configuration (e.g you might want to use different config.xml / log
> levels on testbed) without even a need to introduce any complex code
> into wpkg.js which potentially creates problems. Every feature
> implemented needs to be supported and fully tested for each following
> release. As more complexity is added as more difficult it gets to
> implement new things or even fix bugs in existing code.
> 
> So give the solution outlined above a try.
> 
> br,
> Rainer


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