Scientific Linux Devel,

On January 7 RedHat(TUV) and CentOS joined forces to "provide a common platform 
for opensource community project needs".

See

http://www.redhat.com/about/news/press-archive/2014/1/red-hat-and-centos-join-forces
http://community.redhat.com/centos-faq/
http://centos.org


Note that the existing scientific-linux mailing lists will remain.  We plan on 
"mirroring" the Scientific Linux "CentOS" 7 variant on our existing distro 
servers.

We would like your opinion on the following.

Summary Proposal
----------------

   SL 5 - status quo -- continue building as we do now .

   SL 6 - status quo -- continue building as we do now .

   SL 7 - CentOS variant -- based off of CentOS core

Thanks

-Connie Sieh

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The Future of Scientific Linux Building

1. SL choices:

    1. status quo
        "SL binaries" built local
        "RHEL binaries" built local
        "compose" is done local

    2. centos.org binaries (hybrid)
        "SL binaries" built local
        "RHEL binaries" from CentOS
        "compose" is done local

    3. Variant
        "SL binaries" built at CentOS
        "RHEL binaries" from CentOS
        "compose" is done at CentOS

2. Proposal for SL5 and SL6:

    - SL5: build as before (option 1)

         Expect only 1 more release (5.11) and then security only

    - SL6: option 1 to start, may re-evaluate in the future

3. Proposal for SL7:

     - become an official CentOS variant  (option 3)

    Pros

     - Less effort building packages - could spend on added packages,
       enhanced support, ...
     - More input into CentOS and, maybe, RHEL
     - Looks like trend is toward consolidation to CentOS, should get
       on the bus
     - Joining a worldwide collaboration, to the benefit of HEP and the
       open-source community
     - Will make it much easier for non-FNAL/CERN contributors
     - No, or small, changes needed for sysadmins
     - SL teams can take part in CentOS core

    Cons

     - Less control than currently
     - Point releases (7.1, etc.) might disappear. Expect them to not.
     - Scientific Linux name might become less distinctive.