version definition file VDF question

[#1]

Hello,

Why do we need VDF file when we can use the repo\? What is the important of version definition file?

[#2]

@Anpan K

Ambari Server uses Version Definition Files (VDF) to understand which product and component versions are included in a release. The VDF file contains various Operating System and their Repo URLs. VDFs also provides individual components name & version information that are shipped with that verison of product.

Example: HDP 2.6.2 (VDF): http://public-repo-1.hortonworks.com/HDP/centos6/2.x/updates/2.6.5.0/HDP-2.6.5.0-292.xml

Users can also create their own VDFs (by following the same format as mentioned in the above VDF) by editing the <repoid/> tags informations for each repository to match their Local repository OR Satellite/Spacewalk channel names previously configured.

VDFs helps in minimizing efforts in registering a new version. It also helps in automated cluster creation specially in case of Blueprints: https://docs.hortonworks.com/HDPDocuments/Ambari-2.6.0.0/bk_ambari-release-notes/content/ambari_reln...