The Software Sources Manager

This part of RpmDrake is dedicated to the configuration of the package source repositories. As you can see in Figure 7.5 there are two sources configured: “Installation CD” and “Contrib CD”. Thanks to this tool you can actually add more software sources: a CD from a magazine containing RPMs, a Web repository, etc.

Figure 7.5. The “Software Sources Manager

The Software Sources Manager

You have several available choices here.

  1. Remove –– This gives you the possibility to remove sources which you don't use anymore, e.g. as there is a new version of Mandrake Linux and you bought the new box. Simply select the source to be removed in the list and click this button.

  2. Edit –– here you may change the URL or the relative path to the synthesis/hdlist (if you don't know what we are talking about it will be wise to leave the window via Cancel instead of Save changes).

  3. Add... –– This button provides access to a new dialog, in which you may define a new software package source. In Figure 7.6 you can see how to add your own local archive to the list of sources.

    Figure 7.6. RpmDrake –– adding a source

    RpmDrake –– adding a source
  4. Update... –– You will be shown a list of all defined data sources. You can choose the ones you want to update. Just start the process by clicking on Update.

  5. Proxy... –– If you are sitting behind a firewall and you still want to use RpmDrake to manage your system, you can do so, if you have a proxy server which leads to the Internet (at least in an area where you can find a package server). Normally it should be enough to fill in the Proxy hostname to get it working (Figure 7.7). If you need a user / password combination to get through the proxy, you can also specify them here. Just confirm your changes by clicking on OK and you are done.

Figure 7.7. RpmDrake –– configuring a proxy

RpmDrake –– configuring a proxy

As you have seen on our short trip through RpmDrake, it is easy to manage your own system, to add new applications or to remove something if you need more space on disk. Now welcome to the world of system administrators.