Various RPM Packages


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Thread: Various RPM Packages

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Toronto, Ontario
    Posts
    58

    Various RPM Packages

    I've noticed that there are different RPM packages for different distros.. like mandrake, redhat, etc. What exactly is the difference between them? If I'm running Mandrake and download & install some Redhat 8 rpms, what are the consequences?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    Finland
    Posts
    942
    The placing of files might be different, from your usual places. Also how they are configured might vary. They probably work, but there might be some wierd anomalies. I have installed few programs from outside RH and RH7.3 and they have worked well.

    I'd say be careful with installing outside of your distribution. And when it comes to libraries and similar i'd avoid installing outside of your own distribution. Individual programs probably don't hurt, but larger sets or libraries might.
    I can always be wrong...

    Never argue with an idiot.
    They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Posts
    20
    I think a good rule is if there isnt an rpm for your distro, and there is a source tarball (which is almost always), just go ahead and compile it...its very easy.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2001
    Location
    East Central Illinois, USA
    Posts
    523
    If you can find a .src.rpm for the app you want, use that instead. When you install it, you get two files: a spec file in /usr/src/<distroname>/SPECS, and a tarball in /usr/src/<distroname>/SOURCE. CD to the /usr/src/<distroname>/SPECS directory, and use the "rpm --rebuild <filename.specs>" command to rebuild the rpm (it checks your distros requirements) and gives you an installable binary rpm (you'll find it in /usr/src/<distroname>/RPM). That rpm should be properly configured for your distro.
    If it ain't broke, TWEAK IT

    Registered Linux user # 170078

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