Stupid question about updates

[rstaaf at bellsouth.net]

> 
> From: "Arch Willingham" <arch at tuparks.com>
> Date: 2007/08/15 Wed PM 04:18:09 EDT
> To: <fedora-test-list at redhat.com>
> Subject: Stupid question about updates
> 
> I have thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the Linux experience since I started using it twoish years ago. I now have it running on ten machines (two servers and eight off site laptops/workstations that are used on our jobsites - we are a construction company). With that said, I watch the postings that hit this list as it is interesting to see how y'all are progressing with changes. One thing I have never figured out is what happens once one of these "Fedora Test Update Notification" updates is posted? Do they get sent to one main master distribution and then that gets synchronized out to the mirrors around the world? How long does it normally take to update the servers once y'all post it (I.E. for example, one notification just hit called "Fedora 7 Test Update: kernel-2.6.22.2-57.fc7"...how long until I do a yum update will it take before I get it?). I know that answer is impossible to answer specifically...I was just wondering in general what happens.
> 

It isn't a stupid question at all.  One thing though, the "Fedora 7 Test Update:" notifications are for development updates, you probably don't want those and will not get those unless you have the development repository enabled.  You are probably looking for the "Fedora 7 Update:" notifications.  I have noticed over time that it seems to take longer and longer for the updates to reach the mirrors.  It used to be that the updates would be available via Yum almost the same time as the notifications went out to the mailing lists but it seems to be lagging behind these days, probably a good sign that we are seeing more traffic on the mirrors due to larger numbers of users.  I generally give it about 8 hours after receiving the update notifications on the mailing lists before I try to update and that seems to be working out so far...

Bob