managing multiple gentoo servers from single point

[mcguire_mr2]

Hi all,

I found a thread that recommended cfengine as a good solution for managing multiple Gentoo servers. However, I'm not sold on that yet. I'm looking for something that will examine each server, determine the packages that are installed, determine the updates that are required, apply them, assist with etc-update, and restart services that need it. Should support GLSA updates as well. So, I'm not really asking for much...(lol) no, I realize this is probably a major undertaking. Has anyone ever run across a cool package that can do this, or anyone ever written something like this? If not, this may be a cool grad asst project.

thanks!

[bemis]

GLCU (http://glcu.sourceforge.net/) works quite well for just that - i use it with a handful of "helper" scripts i've put together to manage several of my systems.

[James Wells]

Greetings,

I found a thread that recommended cfengine as a good solution for managing multiple Gentoo servers. However, I'm not sold on that yet. I'm looking for something that will examine each server, determine the packages that are installed, determine the updates that are required, apply them, assist with etc-update, and restart services that need it.

Believe it not, cfengine works great for this type of environment. As I state in another thread, I use it both at home and at work. The trick with using it in a Gentoo environment is to have cfengine keep the system configurations in sync, and force the systems to process pre-built packages from your central server.

Before you worry about the pre-built packages, please note that I am referring to packages that you build with emerge -b. This way, yout can ensure that the packages on the individual servers / clients are built exactly as you want them.