6 Using Software Distribution Mirrors

Distribution mirrors are alternative sources of software packages to repositories on the Oracle Linux yum server or Unbreakable Linux Network. These are selected repositories that you locally replicate from the public server. The local repositories become the package sources for client systems that exist in the local network.

Distribution mirrors are useful in complex infrastructures and are important when developing a controlled update strategy for a mission critical production environment. Distribution mirrors are deployed to provide the following services:

• Provide access to yum repositories or ULN channels for systems that don't have access to a public network.
• Improve software download times and reducing bandwidth overhead for larger infrastructure
• Set up network-based installation infrastructure
• Cater for a snapshot style update strategy where testing can be performed against a controlled software distribution environment before the updates are implemented on production systems.

A server that functions as a software distribution mirror contains yum repositories or ULN channels. The repositories or channels can be made available to client systems in the internal network through various methods such as using local web server, a file transfer server, and so on.

The software distribution mirror must be synchronized with the official Oracle Linux sources. If required, you can control synchronization to occur at strategic intervals so that you can test system updates against a known set of package versions before you roll them out to all the infrastructure.

Note:

If you're considering mirroring ULN channels on a local server, check also Oracle Linux Manager that's based on the Spacewalk open source software. Oracle Linux Manager provides tools to help with system maintenance, installation, and package management. For more information, see Oracle^® Linux Manager & Spacewalk for Oracle^® Linux Documentation.