Am 29.04.2024 um 14:48 schrieb Kamil Paral
<kparal(a)redhat.com>:
On Mon, Apr 29, 2024 at 2:17 PM Peter Boy <pboy(a)uni-bremen.de> wrote:
Folks,
We distribute a distribution medium called „Everything“ at
https://alt.fedoraproject.org/
and various subpages. This provides several (mutually exclusive) installation options, in
addition to all desktop spins and labs also a "Fedora Server Edition". There are
several problems with this:
1.
The installation falsely claims to install "Fedora Server Edition" and reports
accordingly when booting. However, the default values install a desktop environment, so
that our Fedora Server Edition comes with btrfs and a large /home subvolume, among other
things.
The default values don't install a desktop environment. The default package set is
"Fedora Custom Operating System", which is very similar to a minimal
installation.
You probably meant that the default filesystem layout is the same as when installing a
desktop environment. That's true.
Yes, I meant the runtime environment, which is among others the filesystem.
But that's just because btrfs is the default Fedora layout.
Well, in fact, there is no Fedora Default filesystem. The term dates back to the time when
the btrfs apologists wanted to enforce the file system for all editions distribution-wide.
All server variants, i.e. CoreOS and Server, rejected this.
Also, "Fedora Server Edition" is not just any Fedora version that installs some
server software. According to the goals set with Fedora Next in 2024/2016 (I don't
remember the exact year), it's not just something DIY cobbled together, but a branding
with well-defined features, defined in the Product Requirement Document and Technical
Specifications, thoroughly tested and assured reliable operation.
But that is precisely what is not feasible with the "Everything" medium.
...
You can make Everything netinst image behave as if it was a Server image by adding
"inst.profile=fedora-server" to kernel params when booting it. I just tested
that, it has Server branding, the correct Server layout and package set. Perhaps this is
worth documenting?
Good to know. But part of branding is also that such "tricks" are not necessary.
2.
There are always users who download the "Everything" medium instead of the
various edition-specific media. They rely on the "Fedora Server Edition" label
and then complain that nothing works as it should and as it is described in our
documentation.
On one hand, if somebody is experienced enough to find alternative download images, they
should kinda know what they're doing.
Yes and No. Obviously, many Fedora users are used to everything working reliably and
predictably "out of the box". And that's exactly what our goal is (with
Fedora Next) and what sets us apart from other distributions. So you click on the
installation menu and everything runs as it is listed there.
On the other hand, it would be nice if anaconda provided more clarity
about this. Either by allowing to pick one of available profiles right after selecting
language (including a "generic" profile, which is the current behavior), or by
asking the user whether to apply the profile values when they pick e.g. Server package set
(acknowledging that e.g. partitioning might need to be re-done). File an RFE against
anaconda?
I think the only acceptable way would be for Anaconda to automatically select the full
Fedora Server profile, not just the file system type. From what has been said, this is
currently not possible in Anaconda with reasonable effort.
And all the other options would also have to be revised. Why are "Web server"
and „Infrastruktur server" mutually exclusive options, just one example from the
list? And a "Fedora Server Edition" does not include a graphical user interface
and certainly no "Games and Entertainment" or "VideoLan Client“. And
non-applicable options do not belong in its option list for selection.
And honestly, I don't want to see "Fedora Server Edition" in such a
"wild" and unsystematic list. That in no way reflects our professional
aspirations.
And apart from that, who wants to go through all these options and test them?
Therefore, I think the easiest solution is to just remove the „Fedora Server Edition“. And
make it very clear that this is not the Fedora corresponding to "Fedora NeXt",
but Fedora DIY (for the adventurous user not asking for support).
--
Peter Boy
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/User:Pboy
PBoy(a)fedoraproject.org
Timezone: CET (UTC+1) / CEST (UTC+2)
Fedora Server Edition Working Group member
Fedora Docs team contributor and board member
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