Re: online update without online

Exeter wrote:

I have to set up a network (this time using SUSE 10.0) in an office that
will not have an internet connection. Actually I will be able to use one
machine online for a limited time. Please don't ask why, it is the
decision of the people that own (read have the final say) the systems. In
fact it does have some advantages from a security view point. The one
machine that will connect to the internet will not be part of the network.

Since this will be a fresh install on all of the machines each should need
the same updates/patches. My thought is to use YOU to get the updates and
save the files then burn them to a DVD. I would then take the DVD to the
machines I am working on and use that as an update source.

What is your opinions on this and what would be the best way to set up the
DVD. I have not tried this before but it would seem like it would work,
perhaps with some tweaking. It would also be nice to have a local disk
during future installs to bring the system up to XXXX date and save the
download time for each machine.I have to set up a network (this time using
SUSE 10.0) in an office that will not have an internet connection.
Actually I will be able to use one machine online for a limited time.
Please don't ask why, it is the decision of the people that own (read have
the final say) the systems. In fact it does have some advantages from a
security view point. The one machine that will connect to the internet
will not be part of the network.

Since this will be a fresh install on all of the machines each should need
the same updates/patches. My thought is to use YOU to get the updates and
save the files then burn them to a DVD. I would then take the DVD to the
machines I am working on and use that as an update source.

What is your opinions on this and what would be the best way to set up the
DVD. I have not tried this before but it would seem like it would work,
perhaps with some tweaking. It would also be nice to have a local disk
during future instals to bring the system up to XXXX date and save the
download time for each machine.

Same as houghi, with no risk of a security violation you don't need to
update. But the customer needs to be aware that if they do connect in the
future, maybe a couple of years after you have moved to your mansion in the
Sun, they should go through an update to catch up.

This situation though makes your work nicer. Once you have set your system
going, making sure you have a backup and possibly a mirror, then other than
genuine hardware problems (faults or drive space) it will sit there stable
for many years.

I take it then that there is no need for mail services either, however it is
probably worth leaving in for if you or a future IT person for the company
wants to set it for internal messaging.

If you will support them as part of the package, then can I suggest you
mirror it's drives as soon as you have the system setup, and take that away
with you. Test it with a full recovery, then seal it away safely and mark
it up, it isn't a backup, it is the safetynet.

Very important is that you check up on them to make sure they are going
through your instructions for backups and backup testing. Do this very
often at first, gradually reducing your checks as you gain confidence in
the people assigned to do this. But never wholy rely on them, test the
recovery from backup yourself taking random tapes.

People tend to get lax, changing tapes at first, then missing the odd day
which will build until you are lucky if you get one per month. Sometimes
they will just leave the one tape in thinking that what ever happens you
still have yesterdays backup. Which is pretty much what happened in this
company before I arrived, many tapes in the box but not one single backup
because the instructions they had followed when they were left with the
system had gradually reduced to 'just check there is a tape in the drive'.

So you have to be heavy handed in this area in the hope they then pick up on
how important it is. Performing a live disaster recovery at some point for
the company managers can help get them on your side in this. They see how
it is possible to get a full system back in a relatively short time, but
the more lax the person doing backups was, the more of the recovered data
that will be missing.


.

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