Re: [gentoo-dev] baselayout redefines /etc/fstab

[Stroller]

On Feb 5, 2004, at 8:13 am, Drake Wyrm wrote:

>> The Installation documentation could be changed to say "copy & edit
>> your fstab like so: cp /etc/fstab.example /etc/fstab && nano -w
>> /etc/fstab`" and users would have the benefit of a back-up of the
>> original should they ever b0rk theirs up.
>
> I have to disagree completely. This is exactly why we use
> CONFIG_PROTECT
> and etc-update. Packages *should* install a default, but it shouldn't
> be called <config-file>.example. Documentation, such as a config file
> example, belongs in /usr/share/doc/<package>.

Hmmmn... I guess this is a matter of personal taste. I find a .example 
file right next to the one I'm editing SO useful.

>  When you re-emerge
> something, it should try to install everything it needs. If the
> destination file is in a CONFIG_PROTECT directory, Portage does exactly
> what you described (with a .cfg-XXXXX- prefix rather than an .example
> suffix).

As a rule, I agree with you. I haven't yet <touches wood> b0rked up an 
etc-update myself, and I feel it's rather a case of user ignorance & 
carelessness when it does happen. But as Paul says, /etc/fstab can make 
your system unbootable, and so I feel that it's the exception that 
proves the rule.

When updates to /etc/fstabare required, I feel there's a good case for 
"yelling at the user" using ewarn.

Stroller.



PS: Incidentally, I believe that Grub has a simple text-file editor, so 
it should be possible to edit /etc/fstab using this. I found it too 
obscure & confusing when I tried this, and ended up booting from CD, 
but has anyone else tried this..? In the past I've installed Gentoo on 
a Sony Vaio C1 which won't boot from CD, so a HOWTO for this would be 
great.


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