WARNING: Be Careful with apt-get mepis 3.3.2 repository!
Posts: 5513
Be extremely careful in using the apt.mepis.org/3.3.2 repository with 3.3.1. You may not like the results!
My Mepis systems are all running SimplyMepis 3.3.1-1. One of my servers has been disconnected from the 'net because I was using the equipment for other uses (don't ask). Anyway, because it had been disconnected since last week I wanted to do an update/upgrade to bring things up-to-date.
Earlier today I followed the instructions on this thread:
http://www.mepis.org/node/7481
Specifically, I changed my /etc/apt/sources.list so that
deb http://apt.mepis.org/3.3/ unstable main
was changed to
deb http://apt.mepis.org/3.3.2/ unstable main
The one thing I didn't do, different from the instructions above, was to comment out all other repositories.
I did an apt-get update and then apt-get upgrade (not dist-upgrade).
The upgrade proceeded to turn my system to doo-doo 
The 3.3.2 repository has a different version of meauto, mepis control center and lots of other goodies. Somewhere in all of the changes, many of my system settings were also changed. My static IP settings had been changed to DHCP, but changing them back still didn't allow connection to the internal network. My user accounts did not work. When I rebooted I saw lots of other errors that I did not have the time to document (sorry).
Anyway, because this is a new server that I'm developing for "real work", I made the mistake of trying this upgrade on it. Fortunately, I had a backup from the previous four hours. I rebooted the system with the Live CD and copied back the /bin, /etc, /root, /sbin, /tmp, and /var from backup to live.
I was able to recover my system but it could have been worse. And I have a number of applications that have been installed and tuned and I didn't look forward to having to reinstall everything! I feel brave enough to try to do the procedure again tomorrow and I will follow the instructions closer. I will let you know if things work better.
So this is the warning: If you want to try other repositories make sure you have a backup of your system available.
Although we still haven't heard from Warren, LordDavon or any of the other Mepis developers as to why the repositories have changed and what the "stable" Mepis repository location is! I'll let you know when I find out more info 
Jon
Jon, just a wild guess....
Posts: 2299
Jon, just a wild guess.... did you take a look at the new OS Center? There's now an option with each network interface to mark it as internet / wan gateway. My guess is this will set the route 0.0.0.0 to use that specific interface. In my case at least, I marked the checkbox and it worked again.
Newbie or not Newbie, there's always a question
OS Center
Posts: 5513
Thanks carlops. No, I didn't look much further at it. It did come up, and I did notice the new option (on ALL the interfaces, even those that didn't exist). When I unchecked the internet/wan then I got an IP, but was unable to actually connect to the network. Your guess on the routing could be the thing; I didn't check that by doing a "route" command.
Jon
Update on The Repositories
Posts: 5513
I received correspondence from LordDavon and he informed me that the Mepis repositories have stabilized. I am currently back to using mepis/3.3 as my primary repository. I just did an upgrade and no longer get all the "can't find" error messages from their system. So it looks like things are good again!
Thanks to Matt & David at Mepis
Jon
Policy?
Posts: 96
Can I get you to ask them to announce on the forums whenever they mess around with the mirrors, so we don't have to deal with similar issues in the future?
"Succes is on the razors edge of failure".
Repositories
Posts: 88
Should I be able to browse to a repository?
Like you, use of Synaptic turned my system into a lot of doggy doo doo. So I'm either going to have to reload my system from the CD, and then install my emailer (thunderbird) from Mozilla's site, and then Star Office AGAIN etc etc. Its like using bloody M$ - untidy, or live with the mess until MEPIS lets me in to a repository as apparently this subscriber is "Forbidden"!
Any thortz?
Can someone upload their apt config file?
Elp (;-(
8-)
Posts: 613
Jon,
Much thanks for looking out for us.
q
If you treat your beta-testers as if they're your most valuable resource, they will respond by becoming your most valuable resource.