Version Controlled Configs
I’ve been reading up on using subversion to manage my various system config files, namely /etc. While not familiar with using subversion (only knowing about it and what it does), I have been using a couple of websites as role-models: Scott Scriven’s how-to, Peter Murray’s gentoo specific how-to, and Noah Gift’s Red Hat Magazine article. Of course the official subversion docs have been helpful as well. Right now, the bits have me hung up are:
- Repository location – I know how to use the old RCS version control software, which kept everything in the same directory of what you were controlling. So with SVN I would designate a different location in the filesystem (say /var/lib/svn) and store everything there? This seems nice as it would be the same root location for all my repos (assuming an increased usage of SVN down the road). However, in the normal daily routine would I have to checkout everything to a different directory so that I can edit it using my non-su account? Using my regular user account would be the preferred route (and more SA-correct way) but really I’m the only one who access the files so do I just use root for everything? Which leads me to my next question…
- File owner/group permissions – How would this work? If I use my regular account, would I simply su to root and checkout files to /etc to “activate” them?
I’m sure more questions will come but I wanted to get these down on “paper” before I forget them as Renee is now home and this means it is time to put up the toys for the day…
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