The zypper --config option has no effect

This document (7023170) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12

Situation

When attempting to use an alternate /etc/zypp/zypp.conf file, the zypper --config|-c command line options are ignored. When the reposdir is changed to an invalid location, the following still give correct responses:

# zypper lr
# zypper -c /etc/zypp/alternate.conf lr
# zypper --config /etc/zypp/alternate.conf lr

Invalid results were expected when the -c|--config were used for an invalid configuration file, but the specified configuration file was ignored.

Resolution

Use ZYPP_CONF to use an alternate /etc/zypp/zypp.conf. For example:

# ZYPP_CONF=/etc/zypp/alternate.conf zyppr lr

Cause

The zypper -c|--config start up options only redirects /etc/zypp/zypper.conf, not /etc/zypp/zypp.conf.

Additional Information

The zypper command supports --reposd-dir and --cache-dir in case you just want to redirect /etc/zypp/repos.d or /var/cache/zypp that are configuration options within /etc/zypp/zypp.conf.

Disclaimer

This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.