On Fri, 16 Nov 2001 23:29:36 +0700 AD Marshall <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> implied:
> Does anyone know a good reference that explains the differences between the above types of rpm, how each kind differs in usage and what the effects of using an rpm that doesn't match your distro or ix86? > > Of course, if you want to write your own explanation, we'll take that too. ;) Theoretically, noarch will install on ppc, alpha, ix86, etc. I presume this to be correct in the absence of any evidence to the contrary. Others may have more info. Those with .src.rpm are also referred to as SRPMs. They're source with specfile contained. (This is different from, say kernel-source RPMs.) They can be installed and worked with in that respect (usually patched, specfile modified, configuration changes, etc), Then a simple 'rpm -ba <specfile>' or 'rpm -bb <specfile>' will build what the diddler wanted when making changes. Also, the SRPM can be used to simply build a binary RPM that has better optimizations. Typing 'rpmbuild --rebuild <srpm> --target <target>' will accomplish this. An explanation for these options can be located through the rpm manpage. Unlike binary RPMs, you can reinstall the SRPM multiple times without it complaining about already being installed. It basically puts a file or files in /usr/src/redhat/SOURCES and one in /usr/src/redahat/SPECS. Those with the i386.rpm extension work with intel chips as well as amd and others. ONLY with these. They shouldn't even install if you try to put them on a different architecture. Using the SRPMs above can change these to i486, i586, i686 and athlon. Lower chipset numbers in the RPM (lower optimization) will work with higher level chipsets. The converse will fail. Trying to use SuSE RPMs with Redhat usually won't work. Sometimes it will. That applies to other distros as well, though more Mandrake binaries work with Redhat than the others. Different distros place files in different places and then have religious wars with each other over which is "proper" and who therefore is smarter and better. I'll leave it with this: I've tried others and had far fewer problems with Redhat (excepting 5.1 and 7.2) than any of the others. If libraries aren't in paths that are set for your system, they won't work. If they install and go to the right places, they still might not work due to conflicts with things already installed. Various vendors check conflicts and dependencies in different ways and may not catch the problems being created at install time. Trying to build the SRPMs of other distros almost all fail on Redhat. The exception is some Mandrake do pretty well, and I've had personaly luck with one or two from SuSE. All others failed miserably for me and likely yield similar results for others. Some of this can be gleaned from the rpm manpage. Some can be garnered from Maximum RPM (it's available for download), which is sorely out of date. Some can be found in various other documents in various other places around the internet. -- I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted paychecks. _______________________________________________ Redhat-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-list
