I have recently updated two computers from 11.3 to 11.4 using a downloaded iso image of the 11.4 live installation cd.
As i live in a rural area where the only viable internet connection is dial-up, it takes approx. two days to download this image.
I am now attempting to refresh the installation cd repositories so as to download and install the latest versions of the desired software from the 11.4 online repositories.
Abort, retry, ignore? [a/r/i/?] (a): a
Retrieving repository ‘openSUSE-11.4-Oss’ metadata [error]
Repository ‘openSUSE-11.4-Oss’ is invalid.
Can’t provide ./suse/setup/descr/packages.DU.gz
Please check if the URIs defined for this repository are pointing to a valid repository.
Skipping repository ‘openSUSE-11.4-Oss’ because of the above error.
Repository ‘openSUSE-11.4-Update’ is up to date.
Some of the repositories have not been refreshed because of an error.
~ #
Since i did not have this problem when downloading, installing and updating 11.3, for the first time, about a month ago, i figure this has to do with the opensuse.org (Novell ?) server farm being overwhelmed by requests for a refresh of the 11.4 online repositories.
If this is the case, could someone with experience simply answer “yes” to this paragraph (maybe with a little smiley face for added effect).
So I am no expert on this subject and I seldom answer with a Yes or No but I can say that two things are true:
I have seen such repo errors when the repository servers could not be reached in time or were very busy.
openSUSE 11.4 just came out and if ever there was a time when the servers might be busy, this would be it.
Now, that does not mean there can’t be another problem, but it might be worth waiting a couple of days before trying another such update, though the auto updater will try. I might add that I thought I saw the new updater more busy than normal on my computer. I can also say that many packages are being updated at the same time from on high. That causes more download activity as the newer versions are seen by everyone using openSUSE 11.4. So, the whole thing will settle out in the future, but I am unsure just how long that will be.
Thank you for your help and insight ( and for the smiley faces ).
I figure these are the reasons for the unavailibility and/or timeouts of the repository server, as this morning, I was also not able to access the forum section of the opensuse.org website.
Thank you for your help and insight ( and for the smiley faces ).
I figure these are the reasons for the unavailibility and/or timeouts of the repository server, as this morning, I was also not able to access the forum section of the opensuse.org website.
Salutations,
Lokian
The openSUSE forums were down on the morning of 3-14-2011, but I don’t know why at the moment, but it was not your imagination.
I have been able to solve my problem by doing the following:
I went to openSUSE Download Mirrors - Overview and chose a mirror site that included my problematic repository and is from the same institution as the mirror site i chose for the download of my opensuse 11.4 installation cd iso image.
I then opened YAST and started the software repositories application. I replaced the URL of the problematic repository with the URL chosen on the openSUSE Download Mirrors - Overview website.
I then opened a new session of the software management application, and a proper Zypper refresh was completed.
I have now updated and installed all the desired and recommended software to my 11.4 distribution as i had done with the 11.3 distribution last month.
Though i do not want to go much further into detail on the logic behind my choice of mirror site, suffice to say that a judicious choice of the mirror sites for the download of the installation cd and the corresponding repository URLs is important to the successful resolution of this problem.