Updates cycles

OVERVIEW

The SME Server update and maintenance cycle consists in the management of a number of repositories and package categories.

Repositories

The master directories associated with the update and maintenance cycles are located on the build system. Their content is then propagated to the mirrors.

They are:

-dev [corresponds to smedev in the mirrors] 
-test [corresponds to smetest in the mirrors]
-updates-testing [corresponds to smeupdates-testing in the mirrors]
-updates [corresponds to smeupdates in the mirrors]

In addition, there is a staging area (stage) that is used to build the next ISO, you will see reference to it in some repository update emails.

Package Categories

-Sme modified packages.  

Changelog generated in-house and including a reference to a Bug in Bugzilla. Verification required before release.

-Upstream packages (i.e. packages from centos, epel, atrpms, rpmforge, etc).

These are either not SME modified packages, or are kernel mods. There are no bug reports or in-house changelog generated, summary testing only before release.

-Clamav packages.

This is a special case. Whilst not build by SME, and due to problem having been experienced in the past, these packages (three of them) are attached to a single SME bug in bugzilla. There is no specific changelog. However, verification is recommended before release.

-Contribs.

Not part of the updatesteam maintenance cycle. Verification and release are managed by individual maintainers. However, contribs packages are created in smetest, then moved direct to smecontribs - they do not appear in smeupdates-testing.