(solved) Config file need updating on first Gentoo system.

[anarchosax]

I am getting the following message:

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 * IMPORTANT: 4 config files in '/etc' need updating.
 * See the CONFIGURATION FILES and CONFIGURATION FILES UPDATE TOOLS

I have done as suggested and read the relevant sections of the emerge man page. I understand that at least at this time, it is a good idea to keep the config protect variable, however, I don't understand what I can do to solve the situation...

[GDH-gentoo]

Have a look at this part of the Handbook.

[NeddySeagoon]

anarchosax,

There are a couple of tools to help.

The old school way is

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etc-update

The newer way is

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conf-update

I predate conf-update, so I still use etc-update.
I'm not recommanding either.

conf-update will need to be emerged and configured to your taste. It can do things like backup files you are about to change, in case you want to go back.

In general that are two sorts of changes.
1. Updates to files you have not changed. You should probably accept those but do read the diff and make up your own mind.
2. Updates to files you have edited. Be careful with these. etc-update will offer the new default, which will throw away your changes. You won't want that. etc-update at least lets you merge the old and new files. Even then, you may need to edit the merged file.

Looking is free. You can always Ignore Update and come back to it later.
Its always a good idea to keep the config protect variable. Without that, portage will go ahead and overwrite you configuration files without asking.

[NeddySeagoon]

GDH-gentoo,

I must be getting old :)

[flexibeast]

i've been using dispatch-conf, which i've not had any issues with; should i instead be using conf-update?

[Goverp]

You can use whatever floats your boat. IMHO etc-update and similar are for wimps - real men/women use "diff -yW200" and "nano". (Actually, that should read "emacs", but that's a can of worms into which I've never dipped a toe)

[anarchosax]

You can use whatever floats your boat. IMHO etc-update and similar are for wimps - real men/women use "diff -yW200" and "nano". (Actually, that should read "emacs", but that's a can of worms into which I've never dipped a toe)

I am not at all adverse to KISS solutions, such as the one you suggest, if for no other reason than to learn, however as a new Gentoo user, I am wondering if there is as simple a way to determine which files the system message refers to? I realize that the mention of four files, refers to two versions of two files, but as I admittedly wasn't thinking of this issue at the time... I believe one should be /etc/portage/package.unmask, however the other, I am a bit more unclear about...

[NeddySeagoon]

anarchosax,

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# etc-update
Scanning Configuration files...
The following is the list of files which need updating, each
configuration file is followed by a list of possible replacement files.
1) /etc/locale.gen (3)
2) /etc/sudoers (1)
3) /etc/libvirt/libvirtd.conf (1)
Please select a file to edit by entering the corresponding number.
              (don't use -3, -5, -7 or -9 if you're unsure what to do)
              (-1 to exit) (-3 to auto merge all files)
                           (-5 to auto-merge AND not use 'mv -i')
                           (-7 to discard all updates)
                           (-9 to discard all updates AND not use 'rm -i'):

gives a list of files that need to be reviewed for update.
I've not tried the other tools.

[pingtoo]

You can use whatever floats your boat. IMHO etc-update and similar are for wimps - real men/women use "diff -yW200" and "nano". (Actually, that should read "emacs", but that's a can of worms into which I've never dipped a toe)

I am not at all adverse to KISS solutions, such as the one you suggest, if for no other reason than to learn, however as a new Gentoo user, I am wondering if there is as simple a way to determine which files the system message refers to? I realize that the mention of four files, refers to two versions of two files, but as I admittedly wasn't thinking of this issue at the time... I believe one should be /etc/portage/package.unmask, however the other, I am a bit more unclear about...

What is the "other" you refer to? other tools for manage configuration file?

Have you tried any of those tools suggested? I know for etc-update usually allow see which configuration file(s) need to change and with options to see the diff.

[logrusx]

i've been using dispatch-conf, which i've not had any issues with; should i instead be using conf-update?

Use what works for you. Conf-update is in no way better than dispatch-conf. It's just different. It's the first time I'm hearing about it but a simple eix search tells me it's ncurses based. If you like ncurses interfaces, you may like it.

p.s. it seems to be 10 years old now.

Best Regards,
Georgi

[Goverp]

I am not at all adverse to KISS solutions, such as the one you suggest, if for no other reason than to learn, however as a new Gentoo user, I am wondering if there is as simple a way to determine which files the system message refers to? I realize that the mention of four files, refers to two versions of two files, but as I admittedly wasn't thinking of this issue at the time... I believe one should be /etc/portage/package.unmask, however the other, I am a bit more unclear about...

Portage puts updates for protected config files into a new file with the prefix "._cfg####_", where #### is a 4-digit sequence number. So

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find /etc -name '._cfg????_*' -type f

will list them for you. I guess that command or some equivalent is buried in etc-update, cfg_update, conf_update and whatever else.

[anarchosax]

I am not at all adverse to KISS solutions, such as the one you suggest, if for no other reason than to learn, however as a new Gentoo user, I am wondering if there is as simple a way to determine which files the system message refers to? I realize that the mention of four files, refers to two versions of two files, but as I admittedly wasn't thinking of this issue at the time... I believe one should be /etc/portage/package.unmask, however the other, I am a bit more unclear about...

Portage puts updates for protected config files into a new file with the prefix "._cfg####_", where #### is a 4-digit sequence number. So

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find /etc -name '._cfg????_*' -type f

will list them for you. I guess that command or some equivalent is buried in etc-update, cfg_update, conf_update and whatever else.

Very cool, thanks. In my case, there were four versions of the package.use file, from when I was futzing around with librewolf and firefox. neither were actually installed, so I just needed to ensure that the content in the files was indeed in connection to the two web browsers and then I just deleted the files. No need to use etc-update, conf-update or dispatch-conf.

Thanks for all of the replies, I consider this thread solved.

[flexibeast]

You can use whatever floats your boat. IMHO etc-update and similar are for wimps - real men/women use "diff -yW200" and "nano".

(Actually, that should read "emacs", but that's a can of worms into which I've never dipped a toe)

Heh. i've been using Emacs for almost 30 years (although i regularly use Vim / Vi as well), and there's always more to learn ....

[flexibeast]

Conf-update is in no way better than dispatch-conf. It's just different. It's the first time I'm hearing about it but a simple eix search tells me it's ncurses based. If you like ncurses interfaces, you may like it.

Ah okay. i generally don't use ncurses-based stuff, with a few exceptions (e.g. btop / top).

it seems to be 10 years old now.

Interesting .... i see dispatch-conf was last updated in June by sam_, so given that i'm happy with dispatch-conf, i might stick with it.

Thanks!