The problem with binary packages is the explicit kernel version dependence.
For instance: a module compiled on 2.2.13 won't run on 2.2.6 (& vice-versa)
even with module versioning turned off _everywhere_. This means that any
plex86 binaries must be part of an explicit distro
_for_that_specific_kernel_ (not just the version--the actual compile) and
that it must be recompiled for kernel recompiles of the same kernel (that
even means two kernels of the same version, like two 2.2.6 kernels--I found
this out by trial & crash). Because of these really touchy issues, it is
best to not even attempt a binary distro of plex86 for any LINUX (on Windows
it may be possible though.....).
Drew Northup, N1XIM
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf
> Of Dale Thatcher
> Sent: Monday, January 01, 2001 4:43 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: [plex86] Debian package
>
>
> There are packages pending for both plex86 and bochs. No point
> in duplicating
> someone else's work...
>
> Out of interest why would binary packages be bad?
>
> thanks,
>
> - Dale
>
> On Sun, Dec 31, 2000 at 11:11:51AM -0800, Hausheer, Geoffrey wrote:
> > The problem is that the license doesn't allow for modification
> of the BIOS,
> > and that the license says something about "may only be
> used/distributed for
> > use with plex86/bochs and be used only in the manner intended" (that's a
> > summary not verbatim) which debian can't enforce, and thus
> can't distribute.
> > The Debian guys have very strict policies about what licenses are
> > compatible, and the VGA BIOS didn't fit. So there were questions about
> > splitting the BIOS out, or putting the whole thing under non-free, and,
> > well, it didn't look like any good solution could be found. Someone was
> > going to write the the BIOS authors to see about getting the
> license changed
> > as I recall.
> > Hopefully it'll all get worked out eventually.
> > I'm not one of the Debian Developers, and I'm only reciting
> this stuff from
> > memory, so if you want more info go look at the archives.
> > .Geoff
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Drew Northup [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> > Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2000 11:10 AM
> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Subject: RE: [plex86] Debian package
> >
> >
> > We'd be happy to see a sources-only package on any distro, but:
> > 1) we aren't quite ready yet
> > 2) it MUST be a sources package--not binaries please!!!
> > As for the licensing issue, I believe that a sources set can be
> included in
> > your distro so long as it is just the sources (& the included
> VGA BIOS). So
> > tell them that.
> >
> > Drew Northup, N1XIM
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf
> > > Of Hausheer,
> Geoffrey
> > > Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2000 11:07 AM
> > > To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]'
> > > Subject: RE: [plex86] Debian package
> > >
> > >
> > > While it'd be great to have a debian package, you should look at
> > > the Debian
> > > Developer mailing list archives for the last month or so.
> There is a big
> > > question as to whether plex86 can be packaged at all because of the
> > > licensing of the VGA BIOS. Plus plex86 really isn't ready for binary
> > > packages yet, though it is getting close (that is to say it won't be a
> > > trivial package to make, and you'll need to rebuild it constantly
> > > to keep it
> > > current with CVS). Anyhow someone HAS ITP'd plex86, so you
> might as well
> > > head over to debian-devel and see what's going on.
> > > .Geoff
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Dale Thatcher [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> > > Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2000 9:17 AM
> > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > > Subject: [plex86] Debian package
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > Has anyone looked at building a Debian package? If not I'd be
> > > happy to give
> > > it
> > > a go.
> > >
> > > thanks,
> > >
> > > - Dale
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
