dconf - create a system's hardware and software configuration snapshot

dconf [-q] [-v] [-c config] [-o output]

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.

-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

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

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

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

See the TODO file for known bugs and future plans.

/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

snap(8)

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/