5 Using ULN Software Distribution Mirrors

Distribution mirrors are alternative sources of software packages to the channels on Unbreakable Linux Network (ULN). These are selected channels that you locally replicate from ULN. 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 ULN channels for systems that don't have access to a public network.
• Improve software download times and reduce bandwidth overhead for larger infrastructure.
• Set up network-based installation infrastructure.
• Work with 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 ULN channels. The channels can be made available to client systems in the internal network through various methods such as using a local web server or a file transfer server.

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 the wider infrastructure.

Note:

For customers with OCI access, we recommend using OS Management Hub as an alternative and more feature rich approach to providing mirrored software resources available on ULN to local systems. See Oracle OS Management Hub for more information.