[plug] rpms and dependencies

[John Summerfield]

> This is my first email to this list, so hi everyone.
> 
> I am new to RedHat and seem to be having a little more trouble
> installing new packages than I did with Debian, possibly
> because the directory setup is a little different.
> 
> Here's an example:
> 
>   #rpm --install frotz-2.32-4.i386.rpm
>   error: failed dependencies:
>           libncurses.so.3.0 is needed by frotz-2.32-4
> 
>   #locate libncurses
>   /usr/lib/libncurses.so.4.2
>   <snip>
>   /usr/i486-linux-libc5/lib/libncurses.so.3.0
>   
>   #rpm --nodeps --install frotz-2.32-4.i386.rpm
>   #^D
> 
>   %frotz
>   frotz: error in loading shared libraries: libncurses.so.3.0: cannot
>   open shared object file: No such file or directory
> 
> What is the appropriate thing to do?
>  ln -s /usr/lib/libncurses.so.4.2 /usr/lib/libncurses.so.3.0   ?
>  ln -s /usr/i486-linux-libc5/lib/libncurses.so.3.0 /usr/lib/libncurses.so.3.0
>    ?
> Use a tarball instead of the rpm?

;-) Since you don't seem a complete beginner, I suggest getting the 
src.rpm and using rpm ro rebuild it:
	rpm --rebuild
I generall do this if I want the package for two systems (I have rhl 5.x 
and 6.x here), or if I think it's likely not to be a good match (rpm 
apparently distributed for RHL 6.x and I want it on 5.x) or from another 
vendor such as SuSe.

A problem with this is the incredible number of folk who can't put 
together a decent rpm, including a few at redhat.com

In this context, a decent rpm is one that can be built, first try, by 
anyone without special privilege.


-- 
Cheers
John Summerfield
http://os2.ami.com.au/os2/ for OS/2 support.
Configuration, networking, combined IBM ftpsites index.