Configure Media
drakrpm-edit-media
First thing to do after an install is to add software sources (as
known as repositories, media, mirrors). That means you must select the
media sources to be used to install and update packages and
applications. (see Add button below).
Your system is running under an architecture than may be 32-bit
called i586, or 64-bit called x86_64. Take care to choose repositories
that suit your system or are not dependent of the architecture, these
are called noarch packages.
This tool is present in the Mageia Control Center under the tab
Software management.
You can start this tool from the command line, by typing drakrpm-edit-media as root.
The columns
Column Enable:
The checked media will be used to install new packages. Be cautious
with some media such as Testing and Debug, they could make your system
unusable.
Column Update:
The checked media will be used to update packages, it must be
enabled. Only media with "Update" in its name should be selected. For
security reasons, this column isn't modifiable in this tool, you must open
a console as root and type drakrpm-edit-media
--expert.
Column medium:
Display the medium name. Mageia official repositories for final
release versions contain at least:
Core which contains most
programs available supported by Mageia.
Nonfree which contains some
programs which are not free
Tainted free software for which
there might be patent claims in some countries.
Each medium has 4 sub-sections:
Release the packages as of the
day the this version of Mageia was released.
Updates the packages updated
since release due to security or bug concerns. Everyone should have
this medium enabled, even with a very slow internet connection.
Backports some packages of new
versions backported from Cauldron (the next version under
development).
Testing which is used for
temporary tests of new updates, to allow the bug reporters and the QA
team to validate the corrections.
The buttons on the
right
Remove:
To remove a medium, click on it and then on this button. It is wise
to remove the medium used for the installation (CD or DVD for example)
since all the packages it contains are in the official Core release
medium.
Edit:
Allows you to modify the selected medium settings, (URL, downloader
and proxy).
Add:
Add the official repositories available on the internet. These
repositories contains only sure and well tested software. Clicking on the
add button opens a pop up window giving the choices of installing the
"Update sources only" or the "Full set of sources". The first choice the
essential, the second is more useful.
Up and down arrows:
Change the list order. When Drakrpm looks for a package, it reads
the list in the displayed order and will install the first found package
(for a same release number, if not, the last release will be installed).
So if possible, place the fastest repositories on the top.
The menu
File -> Update:
A window pops up with the media list. Select the ones you want to
update and click on the Update button.
File -> Add a specific media mirror:
Suppose you aren't happy with the actual mirror, because for example
it's too slow or often unavailable, you can choose another mirror. Select
all the actual media and click on Remove to take
them out. Click on File -> Add a specific media
mirror, choose between update only or the full set (if you do
not know, choose the Full set of sources) and
accept the contact by clicking on Yes. This window
opens:
You can see, on the left, a list of countries, choose yours or one
very close by clicking on the > symbol, this will display all the
available mirrors in that country. Select one and click on
OK.
File -> Add a custom medium:
It is possible to install a new media (from a third party for
example) that isn't supported by Mageia. A new window appears:
Select the medium type, find a smart name that well define
the medium and give the URL (or the path, according to the medium
type)
Options -> Global options:
This item allows you to choose when to "Verify RPMs to be installed"
(always or never), the download program (curl, wget or aria2) and to
define the download policy for information about the packages (on demand
-by default-, update only, always or never).
Options -> Manage keys:
To guarantee a high level of security, digital keys are used to
authenticate the media. It is possible for each medium to allow or
disallow a key. In the window that appear, select a medium and then click
on Add to allow a new key or to select a key and
click on Remove to disallow that key.
Do this with care, as with all security-related questions
Options -> Proxy:
If you need to use a proxy server for internet access, you can
configure it here. You only need to give the Proxy
hostname and if necessary a Username and
Password.