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Dealing With unsup

What is /usr/unsup?

/usr/unsup contains user maintained software that is being made available ECN wide. The level of support /usr/unsup software receives is ENTIRELY up to what the maintainer is able and/or willing to provide on a volunteer basis.

What to do with questions about or problems with the software in /usr/unsup?

All questions, problem reports, requests for new versions, requests for enhancements, etc. regarding software in /usr/unsup are to be directed to the volunteer maintainer of that software. The software in /usr/unsup is NOT supported in any way by ECN.

Determining the maintainer of /usr/unsup software:

The file "/usr/unsup/.control" contains a list of most of the files in /usr/unsup along with the login name of the person who maintains each file. If the the file you are interested is not listed in "/usr/unsup/.control", send mail to "unsup" listing the path to the file and asking who the maintainer is.

What if the maintainer isn't doing an adequate job?

First of all, please remember that the maintainer was kind enough to volunteer his time and efforts to make this software available for you to use. However, if you feel certain software in /usr/unsup isn't being adequately maintained and would like to offer to assist in its maintenance then contact the current maintainer(s) and see if they would be willing to have you assist with or take over the maintenance of that software. If so, have the current maintainer mail the following to "unsup":

  Package:          Name

  Change:           additional maintainer
                    or replacement maintainer

  New Maintainer:   name (login), relationship to ECN
                    (IE grad student, Civil consultant, etc.),
                    other /usr/unsup packages maintained

After a properly filled out request is received, the information will be passed on to the site specialists of the various Engineering Schools for approval. If there are no objections within one week, arrangements will be made so that the new maintainer can either assist or take over maintenance of the package in /usr/unsup.

What if I can not contact the maintainer?

Please keep in mind that the maintainer may be on semester break, home for the summer, on co-op, on vacation, at a conference, etc. so please give them adequate time to respond. However, if you have reason to believe the maintainer is no longer an ECN user and you would like to take over maintenance of the software then mail the following to "unsup":

  Package:          name

  Change:           take over for maintainer
                    who is no longer on ECN

  New Maintainer:   name (login), relationship to ECN
                    (IE grad student, Civil consultant, etc.),
                    other /usr/unsup packages maintained

  After  a  properly  filled  out  request   is   received,   the
  information  will  be  passed on to the site specialists of the
  various Engineering Schools  for  approval.  If  there  are  no
  objections  within one week, then things will be set up so that
  you can take over maintenance of the package in /usr/unsup.

/usr/unsup software removal:

  Software packages  in  /usr/unsup  will  be  removed  when  the
  software  has  become out of date, the maintainer has left ECN,
  and no one has volunteered to take over the maintenance of that
  software.   Therefore,  please  do  not rely on the software on
  /usr/unsup unless you are willing to take over its maintenance.

Getting a new package added to /usr/unsup:

  Anyone with an ECN account may request to maintain  a  software
  package  in  /usr/unsup.  To request the addition of a software
  package to /usr/unsup fill out the following  and  mail  it  to
  "unsup":
  Package:        name - short description

  Size:           total installed size
                  (include binaries, manual pages, libraries,
                  data files, etc., but NOT the sources)

  Architectures:  SUN3, SUN4, NP1, VAX, etc.

  Maintainer:     name (login), relationship to ECN
                  (IE grad student, Civil consultant, etc.),
                  other /usr/unsup packages maintained

  After  a  properly  filled  out  request   is   received,   the
  information  will  be  passed on to the site specialists of the
  various Engineering Schools  for  approval.  If  there  are  no
  objections  within  one week, necessary details will be handled
  so that the maintainer can install and maintain the package  in
  /usr/unsup.




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Last modified: Wednesday, 22-Oct-97 15:15:30 EST




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