NAME
dconf - create a system’s hardware and software configuration snapshot
SYNOPSIS
dconf [-q] [-v] [-c config] [-o output]
DESCRIPTION
Dconf is a tool to collect a system’s hardware and software
configuration. It allows to take your system configuration with you on
the road, compare identical systems (like nodes in a cluster) to
troubleshoot HW or SW problems.
Dconf is also useful in projects where you have to manage changes as a
team. Dconf can run periodically and send out system changes to a list
of email addresses so that they can be revised and discussed in group.
You can customize your dconf configuration for specific needs, like
making a profile of your laptop’s hardware or copy specific software
configuration files to send out or compare with other systems.
As a sysadmin, you won’t become too paranoid if less experienced people
have root-access. As a consultant, you won’t feel isolated if you don’t
have remote access to your systems. As a support engineer, you won’t
become frustrated if a customer has fiddled around with some important
config file and you have to find which. As a performance tuner, you can
capture the state of the system configuration in between performance
tests/benchmarks.
OPTIONS
-c, --config file
specify alternative configfile
-o, --output file
write output to given file
-q, --quiet
minimal output
-v, --verbose
increase verbosity
-vv, -vvv
increase verbosity more
ARGUMENTS
Man: Ah. I’d like to have an argument, please.
Receptionist:
Certainly sir. Have you been here before?
Man: No, I haven’t, this is my first time.
Receptionist:
I see. Well, do you want to have just one argument, or were you
thinking of taking a course?
Man: Well, what is the cost?
Receptionist:
Well, It’s one pound for a five minute argument, but only eight
pounds for a course of ten.
Man: Well, I think it would be best if I perhaps started off with
just the one and then see how it goes.
For more arguments, see:
http://orangecow.org/pythonet/sketches/argument.htm:
http://orangecow.org/pythonet/sketches/argument.htm
USAGE
To create a snapshot of the current system:
dconf
To check the latest changes against the previous snapshot:
zdiff -u /var/log/dconf/dconf-$HOSTNAME-previous.log.gz /var/log/dconf/dconf-$HOSTNAME-latest.log.gz
ADDING FILES OR COMMANDS
You can add files and commands to /etc/dconf-custom.conf and include
that from your /etc/dconf.conf, however I would appreciate if you send
me any changes you make so that they can be include in the next
version.
Dconf was design so that an excessive list of configuration files or
commands would not harm the execution of the program or the content of
the snapshot file.
Please send changes to: Dag Wieers dag@wieers.com:
mailto:dag@wieers.com
BUGS
See the TODO file for known bugs and future plans.
FILES
/etc/dconf.conf
the main Dconf configuration file (replaced on update)
/etc/dconf-custom.conf
the customized configuration file (customize this one)
/var/log/dconf/
the location of the snapshot files
SEE ALSO
snap(8)
AUTHOR
Written by Dag Wieers dag@wieers.com: mailto:dag@wieers.com
Homepage at http://dag.wieers.com/home-made/dconf/:
http://dag.wieers.com/home-made/dconf/