On Sat, 9 Mar 2002, Colin Watson wrote: > On Sat, Mar 09, 2002 at 01:01:49PM -0600, Jor-el wrote: > > b. The AIX package database is called the ODM (sorry - you'll have to > > ask someone who knows, what it stands for) and contains details of files > > installed via the AIX installer. The dpkg database needs to be able to > > read that information and be capable of accepting AIX programs as > > an alternative to dependencies. For example, PERL is distributed as part > > of AIX proper and also as part of the toolbox. If there is a Debian > > package that depends on PERL, and if the AIX PERL is installed, then the > > Debian installer needs to recognize that the dependancy has been met. > > Are you sure about that? AIX's perl package won't be configured with the > same include path as Debian's, so our perl-based packages are unlikely > to work with it.
I don't think that counting on AIX's perl package is wise. If you want Debian to run with any consistency on AIX boxen, install a dedicated, Debianized Perl. I work in an environment with a slew of mixed Unices, predominately AIX - dpkg aside, we gave up on using AIX's Perl altogether and went with a consistent version of Perl installed in /usr/local/bin/. Even AIX does this (the PSSP packages have their own Perl separate from the "main" perl.bff). In other words, how do you make sure that a Perl patch from IBM won't lay your dpkg installation to waste? But the real burning question I see is, where to do you put the Debian version of Perl and its modules? /usr/local/bin/ is a policy violation (and would cause no end of grief for those who already have their infrastructure installed there), but /usr/bin/ is Evil for other reasons. Perhaps there should be a /usr/debian/ directory with it's own ./lib/, ./bin/, etc. for OSes where you have co-existant packaging system. I know it's ugly, but you need a way to maintain orthogonality between the "native" packaging system and dpkg. Anyway, sorry to jump in mid-thread. I'm not familiar with running dpkg on AIX or Solaris, but have been burned by trying to depend on AIX's Perl. tony [EMAIL PROTECTED] | Linux: because a PC is a terrible thing to waste http://www.debian.org | -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] put this on Tshirts in '93
