Package Management

Package Management on MediaWiki Servers

This article details package management strategies for MediaWiki 1.40 servers, providing guidance for both initial setup and ongoing maintenance. Proper package management is crucial for security, stability, and the ability to deploy updates efficiently. We will cover common package managers, best practices, and troubleshooting tips. This guide is intended for system administrators and server engineers.

Understanding Package Managers

A package manager simplifies the process of installing, upgrading, configuring, and removing software on a server. Different operating systems utilize different package managers. Understanding your server's package manager is fundamental to maintaining a healthy MediaWiki environment.

Common Package Managers

The most common package managers are:

APT (Advanced Package Tool): Used primarily on Debian, Ubuntu, and related distributions.
YUM (Yellowdog Updater, Modified): Used primarily on CentOS, RHEL, and Fedora.
dnf (Dandified YUM): The successor to YUM, found on newer Fedora and RHEL-based systems.
zypper: Used on openSUSE and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.

The choice of package manager dictates the commands you use to manage software. Consult your operating system’s documentation for specific instructions. It is vital to maintain a consistent package management approach across all servers in a MediaWiki cluster for predictable behavior. See Server Clustering for more information.

Debian/Ubuntu: APT Package Management

APT is the preferred package manager for Debian-based systems. Here's a breakdown of common APT commands:

Command	Description
`sudo apt update`	Refreshes the package lists from the repositories. Always run this before installing or upgrading packages.
`sudo apt upgrade`	Upgrades all installed packages to their latest versions.
`sudo apt install <package_name>`	Installs a new package.
`sudo apt remove <package_name>`	Removes a package, but leaves configuration files intact.
`sudo apt purge <package_name>`	Removes a package and its configuration files.
`sudo apt autoremove`	Removes automatically installed packages that are no longer needed.

It's essential to regularly update and upgrade packages to address security vulnerabilities. Consider using unattended upgrades. See Security Hardening for more details.

CentOS/RHEL: YUM/dnf Package Management

YUM and dnf are used on Red Hat-based systems. dnf is generally preferred on newer systems due to performance improvements.

Package Manager	Command	Description
YUM	`sudo yum update`	Updates all installed packages.		YUM	`sudo yum install <package_name>`	Installs a new package.		YUM	`sudo yum remove <package_name>`	Removes a package.
dnf	`sudo dnf update`	Updates all installed packages.		dnf	`sudo dnf install <package_name>`	Installs a new package.		dnf	`sudo dnf remove <package_name>`	Removes a package.

YUM/dnf repositories are defined in `.repo` files located in `/etc/yum.repos.d/`. Ensure these repositories are correctly configured. See Repository Configuration for more information about managing repositories.