Some changes to the way Debian manages its archive and releases architectures may be in the works. Most of this doesn't affect Debian Hurd because we aren't a release architecture anyway.
Architectures which are not released or have low download rates will be hosted on a separate archive; this makes it easier to allow the mirror network to only mirror the parts which need high-capacity hosting. But there will also be requirements for hosting on the secondary archive; those are currently proposed as follows: 1. the architecture must be freely usable (i.e., without NDAs) 2. the architecture must be able to run a buildd 24/7 sustained (without crashing) 3. the architecture must have an actual, running, working buildd 4. the port must include basic unix functionality, e.g resolving DNS names and firewalling 5. binary packages must be built from the unmodified Debian source (required, among other reasons, for license compliance) 6. binaries for the proposed architecture must have been built and signed by official Debian developers 7. the architecture must have successfully compiled 50% of the archive's source (excluding architecture-specific packages) 8. 5 developers who will use or work on the port must send in signed requests for its addition 9. the port must demonstrate that they have at least 50 users These are not cast into stone, but we should expect something like this to become reality I think. Taking these in order: 1. the architecture must be freely usable (i.e., without NDAs) Our arch is ordinary i386 hardware, so we meet this. 2. the architecture must be able to run a buildd 24/7 sustained (without crashing) 3. the architecture must have an actual, running, working buildd This, I think needs to be our target. 4. the port must include basic unix functionality, e.g resolving DNS names and firewalling We certainly do DNS names, and I'm asking what specific firewalling support is required. 5. binary packages must be built from the unmodified Debian source (required, among other reasons, for license compliance) 6. binaries for the proposed architecture must have been built and signed by official Debian developers We do this already. 7. the architecture must have successfully compiled 50% of the archive's source (excluding architecture-specific packages) Having a working buildd on fast hardware should make this achievable. What percentage are we at now? 8. 5 developers who will use or work on the port must send in signed requests for its addition 9. the port must demonstrate that they have at least 50 users We should be able to do these (right?). If we need to add developers, we can do that, but we need to do it ASAP because it takes time to get through the process. These requirements are not necessarily rigid, but we should do our level best. If we don't meet this, then we'll be responsible for maintaining our own package repository until such time as we do. That's not a disaster, but we have benefited from the Debian infrastructure thus far and it would be nice to continue to. Thomas -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]