[Engine-devel] [Users] [Feedback required][host-deploy] Fedora-19 misses tar at minimal setup

[Juan Hernandez]

On 07/28/2013 09:46 AM, Alon Bar-Lev wrote:
> Hello All,
>
> I would like to receive feedback regarding how we should cope with a state presented to use by Fedora.
>
> Fedora-19 minimal setup does not install tar utility which is required to deploy files during the host-deploy process (Hosts->Add Host).
>
> I guess because of 2.8M in size (including translations) -- a standard commonly used utility was removed.
>
> There are two alternatives :
>
> 1. Instruct users who are using minimal installations to manually install tar utility just like they configure repository, dns, etc..
>
> Benefit: simplicity.
> Benefit: use standard tools.
> Benefit: lower payload to transmit.
> Drawback: require tar at destination machine.
>
> 2. Do not use tar but self extracting python script, a patch is ready[1].
>
> Benefit: ability to deploy environment in which tar is missing.
> Drawback: non standard tool at destination machine.
> Drawback: complexity within our code.
>
> [[[
> There was 3rd alternative, using python tar module to deploy tar.
> However, there is a bug in that module when processing last block if empty.
> This is edge condition but happened to at least one of the users and I could
> reproduce it.
> ]]]
>
> Regards,
> Alon Bar-Lev

Consider using cpio instead of tar. It is required to build initrd, so 
available in any installation. It is also supported by the library 
currently used in the engine to build the tar archive.

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