[Slugnet] updating a disconnected server

[aho-lugs at 03s.net]

On Fri, Sep 14, 2007 at 04:06:34PM +0800, desire at gmail.com wrote:
> Riddle me this:  If I have a redhat server that is not connected to the
> internet, how can I keep the standard packages updated or at least know
> which packages need to be updated?  Assume this is a single server, so I
> haven't gone around setting up my own local infrastructure such as a
redhat
> update satellite, yum/apt repository, etc...

You can at least be notifed of the updates by subscribing to the
package announcement mailing list / RSS feed / web forum / etc. specific
to your distro.  After that, it's a matter of pulling down the updated
packages manually and applying them somehow.

The hidden assumption, of course, is that you actually have Internet
access on a different box.  If you don't, then you could enquire if
some kind soul is willing to send you regular CD-ROMs with the latest
updated packages.

> Would this be different if it were running centos?  How would this
change if
> it were based on suse?  How about debian or its derivatives?

The basic principles are the same.  The devil, as always, is in the
details.  8-)

- Adrian