Should we offer debian-fastrack in addition to backports?

Bearded_Blunder · 2022-02-18 00:17:35

Details here: https://fasttrack.debian.net/
There's some very useful packages live there, e.g. VirtualBox

Alternatively, would there be mileage in putting VirtualBox in the favourite packages menu?
It might discourage users adding non-debian repos (oracle) to get hold of it.

Official Debian instructions for VBox here: https://wiki.debian.org/VirtualBox

Just a thought.

Last edited by Bearded_Blunder (2022-02-18 01:00:06)

DeepDayze · 2022-02-18 15:30:52

What advantages does fast track have over backports? Just curious.

DeepDayze · 2022-02-18 15:32:17

Would also be nice if VMWare would have packages in debian as well...

Bearded_Blunder · 2022-02-18 15:40:28

It has packages that are available in SID, but don't get released to Testing or Stable for policy reasons, usually to do with upstream support for security patches in older versions.

Oracle & hence VirtualBox are examples. It's not that it has "advantages over" just that it has software "not available in" since backports are only allowed to accept things that migrate through SID > Testing > Stable > Oldstable ... in the usual way.
Using it requires you have backports enabled in addition.

Basically it's a place for software that changes often & doesn't, or can't, or upstream won't (Oracle) meet the standard Debian security model of backporting security patches to old versions & instead insist you keep current if you want security patches.

I think the sheer popularity of VirtualBox is a considerable factor in why the repository exists at all in Debian, & now it does, other things are available there too. Gitlab, a load of ruby stuff

Last edited by Bearded_Blunder (2022-02-18 15:54:03)

DeepDayze · 2022-02-18 15:55:54

Bearded_Blunder wrote:

It has packages that are available in SID, but don't get released to Testing or Stable for policy reasons, usually to do with upstream support for security patches in older versions.
Oracle & hence VirtualBox are examples. It's not that it has "advantages over" just that it has software "not available in" since backports are only allowed to accept things that migrate through SID > Testing > Stable > Oldstable ... in the usual way.
Using it requires you have backports enabled in addition.
Basically it's a place for software that changes often & doesn't, or can't, or upstream won't (Oracle) meet the standard Debian security model of backporting security patches to old versions & instead insist you keep current if you want security patches.
I think the sheer popularity of VirtualBox is a considerable factor in why the repository exists at all in Debian, & now it does, other things are available there too. Gitlab, a load of ruby stuff

Oh gotcha and that makes great sense for proprietary packages.

rbh · 2022-02-19 18:44:52

Bearded_Blunder wrote:

I think the sheer popularity of VirtualBox is a considerable factor in why the repository exists at all in Debian,

But, they do not carry Virtualbox. Look in http://fasttrack.debian.net/debian-fast … n-free/v/m only the guest additions...

Better download from Oracles repo.

And for BL, only install Debian stanbdard repos and BL's.

Bearded_Blunder · 2022-02-19 20:36:47

rbh wrote:

But, they do not carry Virtualbox. Look in http://fasttrack.debian.net/debian-fast … n-free/v/m only the guest additions...
Better download from Oracles repo.
And for BL, .

But they do.. It lives under contrib though not non-free see:
http://fasttrack.debian.net/debian-fast … irtualbox/

Better to install from only Debian & BL's standard repos.

After adding fasttrack & updating apt:

beardy@debian:~$ apt policy virtualbox
virtualbox:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 6.1.28-dfsg-1~fto11+1
  Version table:
     6.1.28-dfsg-1~fto11+1 100
        100 https://fasttrack.debian.net/debian-fasttrack bullseye-fasttrack/contrib amd64 Packages
beardy@debian:~$

This sort of confusion & people thinking they can't get it from Debian is exactly why I've made the suggestion.

Last edited by Bearded_Blunder (2022-02-19 20:56:54)

rbh · 2022-02-19 22:48:36

Ah, I was so sure it was under non-free...
It is not so much after oracle, who has virtualbox-6.1_6.1.32-...

Maybe add as alternative in BL-Welcome...

#1 2022-02-18 00:17:35

Should we offer debian-fastrack in addition to backports?

#2 2022-02-18 15:30:52

Re: Should we offer debian-fastrack in addition to backports?

#3 2022-02-18 15:32:17

Re: Should we offer debian-fastrack in addition to backports?

#4 2022-02-18 15:40:28

Re: Should we offer debian-fastrack in addition to backports?

#5 2022-02-18 15:55:54

Re: Should we offer debian-fastrack in addition to backports?

#6 2022-02-19 18:44:52

Re: Should we offer debian-fastrack in addition to backports?

#7 2022-02-19 20:36:47

Re: Should we offer debian-fastrack in addition to backports?

#8 2022-02-19 22:48:36

Re: Should we offer debian-fastrack in addition to backports?

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