Repo and Package Safety on SME Server

SME Server is a curated ecosystem. Adding repositories can be useful, but it can also introduce conflicts.

SME repositories

Typical SME repositories include:

• smeos
• smeupdates
• smeextras
• smeaddons

List configured repos:

yum repolist all

Rule of thumb

• Prefer SME repos first
• Add external repos only when you have a specific need
• Avoid enabling external repos globally for routine updates

About EPEL

EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) is commonly used to provide extra packages not in base repos.

SME practice is usually:

• install the EPEL repo definition
• keep it disabled by default
• enable it only for the specific install

Example:

yum --enablerepo=epel install <package>

This reduces the chance of unintended package replacement.

Repo priorities

If yum priorities are enabled, repo priority order matters.

Check if priorities plugin is enabled:

cat /etc/yum/pluginconf.d/priorities.conf

CentOS 7 end of life and Vault

For SME Server 10 systems on a CentOS 7 base, you may need to point CentOS base repos to Vault.

See:

• CentOS 7 Vault repositories

Keep a change record

Whenever you add a repo or install a non-standard package:

• note why
• note what you installed
• note how to remove it

Future-you will thank past-you.