KCLUG December 2004

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44 participants
121 discussions

Re: Hard drives as christmas presents
by Matt Graham 10 Dec '04

10 Dec '04

> I went into one of my "junk" stores the other day and helped them with a > few things, I asked them to save me some dead drives for the magnets and > some battered cases for the motherboard trays. She gave me a drive that > she said was dead, the note on it said hanging during format. I was going > to strip it until I noticed it was under warranty. If I verify that it is > dead I will need a "approved" shipping container, so if anyone gets a > Seagate hard drive for christmas and are wanting to get rid of the box, > let me know. > Cleaning out some stuff, I found a few hdd boxes that I'm going to toss, unless you want them for this. One is a maxtor, other is a western digital. They include the packing materials to protect the drive. Let me know, Matt

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Hard drives as christmas presents
by lerninlinux＠comcast.net 10 Dec '04

10 Dec '04

I went into one of my "junk" stores the other day and helped them with a few things, I asked them to save me some dead drives for the magnets and some battered cases for the motherboard trays. She gave me a drive that she said was dead, the note on it said hanging during format. I was going to strip it until I noticed it was under warranty. If I verify that it is dead I will need a "approved" shipping container, so if anyone gets a Seagate hard drive for christmas and are wanting to get rid of the box, let me know. Thanks

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RPMs and Debs creation
by Brian Kelsay 10 Dec '04

10 Dec '04

Has anyone created .rpm or .deb files for RedHat, SuSe or Debian systems? Do you do everything from the command line or have you found any graphical tools to help with the process? Mainly so that you don't forget any important parts. This may not be necessary on a Linux system as there are fewer pieces to an installed app than in Windows and no registry (unless you count gconf). Please point me at any docs/URLs you found to be helpful in learning the process. I've skimmed the Debian Policy Manual for the important points, but I assume that more of it will become clear after I build and test a few .debs. I'm looking into the process to see if I can do this, since that is what I do in my day job for Windows systems. I use Wise Package Studio and have used SMS Installer and Ghost Installer to make .msi and .exe files. I am currently looking at Installshield and Nullsoft Installer to add to those Windows skills. I haven't yet broken open an RPM or DEB, but have looked at the examples in the couple of howtos I read. http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/cooldev/features/a_redhat_rpms_to_suse_… http://linuxdevices.com/articles/AT8047723203.html http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-binary.html One thing I like about Wise Package Studio is the ability to see all the files to be installed as a part of a package and quickly switch to a view of the registry, .ini files, Add/Remove Programs Menu info and settings, install order or other views of the parts of the package. Most of this appears like browsing the filesystem in Konquerer/Explorer. You can easily add individual files/registry keys or whole directories/regkey trees. Brian Kelsay

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RE: RPMs and Debs creation
by Brian Densmore 09 Dec '04

09 Dec '04

Actually, I think it would be a good enhancement to dpkg, but I think it should be a new option like: dpkg -i --bldpkg package.src.conf, or dpkg -i --zbldpkg package.tar.gz depending on whether you've already built a config for the build or not. Of course, it would require the installer know something about what the depends are for program. I'm not sure how checkinstall or pkgwrite know what to put into the depends section or even if they do. This might be a major stumbling block for these two utilities. After all anyone can download a targz file and compile/install it. Having it actually work after doing so or actually getting it to compile if you are missing a library or two is an entirely different thing. Brian Densmore > -----Original Message----- > From: Brian Kelsay > > > Looks like either checkinstall or pkgwrite will fit the bill > for now. I wonder if anyone ever thought of adding a > connection to either of these from Synaptic, Aptitude, or one > of the GUI RPM installers (Karchiver?). It would be really > sweet if I could just run "dpkg -i package.tar.gz" and it > would build the .deb and install it. Maybe if it asks a few > questions, like confirm the version, arch., or a few other > details with the ability to skip and you'd be set. dpkg > already gets called by apt-get and apt-get is called by the > gui installers, etc. > > > Brian Kelsay >

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Re: RPMs and Debs creation
by Brian Kelsay 09 Dec '04

09 Dec '04

Looks like either checkinstall or pkgwrite will fit the bill for now. I wonder if anyone ever thought of adding a connection to either of these from Synaptic, Aptitude, or one of the GUI RPM installers (Karchiver?). It would be really sweet if I could just run "dpkg -i package.tar.gz" and it would build the .deb and install it. Maybe if it asks a few questions, like confirm the version, arch., or a few other details with the ability to skip and you'd be set. dpkg already gets called by apt-get and apt-get is called by the gui installers, etc. Brian Kelsay

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RE: RPMs and Debs creation
by Brian Densmore 09 Dec '04

09 Dec '04

> -----Original Message----- > From: Brian Kelsay > > Checkinstall sounds like it watches the make install in a way I didn't check out the docs on this, but the description in Jim's email seems to indicate it actually runs the dpkg/rpm commands also. So I would say it is watching the make install and then doing a .deb/rpm install telling it to only update the installed list. This looks like a very useful tool for persons not familiar with or too lazy to build a deb or rpm. By actually updating the installed software list once the package is installed it can now be safely and easily removed and reinstalled at ease. > > All this stemmed from the desire to create a .deb for Kiso > and a few other programs that are only avail as source or > .rpm, or the occasional mdk rpm. > I'd be willing to make .debs for any app anyone on the list wants to see a .deb for. Brian Densmore

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Re: RPMs and Debs creation
by Brian Kelsay 08 Dec '04

08 Dec '04

Checkinstall sounds like it watches the make install in a way similar to Wise Package Studio. Wise does additional steps to find all the parts of a package. First Wise takes a snapshot of the files and reg keys on a system, then you watch the install of a program to capture the order/location of install parts, then you take a second snapshot and basically get a diff to be sure you catch any changes. A .wsi is created which you then edit with Wise and when you are satisfied you compile it into a .msi and test it. A program install on Windows can be scripted and sometimes is, but it is far more complicated and time consuming to do so. Sometimes you have no choice but to script parts or all of an install. With Linux it looks to be easier to script an install, including text config files, rules for install and file permissions. Checkinstall might be a good way to track down parts of a package and learn the process of manual package building. Brian: I didn't see the link to Pkgwrite, but thanks for the info and the tip on "depends". All this stemmed from the desire to create a .deb for Kiso and a few other programs that are only avail as source or .rpm, or the occasional mdk rpm. [OT] Glue removal: Look to the Goo-gone line of products. They soften up adhesives for removal. Use LOTS of ventilation and fans. Brian Kelsay >>> Uncle Jim <jim(a)jimani.com> 12/08/04 02:45PM >>> Hi, On Wed, Dec 08, 2004 at 02:24:35PM -0600, Brian Kelsay wrote: > Has anyone created .rpm or .deb files for RedHat, SuSe or Debian systems? Do you do everything from the command line or have you found any graphical tools to help with the process? Take a look at checkinstall http://checkinstall.izto.org It will do the hard part for an rpm .spec file, haven't tried it with .deb files. From the introduction: <snip> When "make install" is done, checkinstall will create a Slackware, RPM or Debian package and install it with Slackware's installpkg, "rpm -i" or "dpkg -i" as appropriate, so you can view it's contents in /var/log/packages or remove it with removepkg (for Slackware), "rpm -ql" and "rpm -e" (RPM) or "dpkg -I" and "dpkg -r" (Debian).

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RE: RPMs and Debs creation
by Brian Densmore 08 Dec '04

08 Dec '04

> -----Original Message----- > From: Brian Kelsay > > Has anyone created .rpm or .deb files for RedHat, SuSe or > Debian systems? Do you do everything from the command line > or have you found any graphical tools to help with the > process? Mainly so that you don't forget any important Yes. From the command line. > registry (unless you count gconf). Please point me at any > docs/URLs you found to be helpful in learning the process. > I've skimmed the Debian Policy Manual for the important > points, but I assume that more of it will become clear after > I build and test a few .debs. I don't have anything new to add, but if you read the linuxdevices article then you probably saw a mention of pkgwrite. http://www.ffem.org/daveb/pkgwrite/ Which will create .deb and .rpm from one control file. I haven't looked for a gui install toolkit. Would be a nice project, but since I never got the last project I thought of off the ground I'm not certain about starting a new one. On the upside, I've completed one of my home projects and am well on the way to finishing up a second one. [Way OT: Anyone know a good glue stripper, for stripping rug glue off of concrete? One that preferably won't kill every living thing in a 50 mile radius.] As far as debs go, if you can make your depends rely on other debs, and don't worry about indirect depends. If you know that your app depends on Kwrite, then use Kwrite for the depend. Not Kwrite,KDE,X,etc. Let the PMS handle the dependency tree. Brian Densmore

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who's using a usb drive
by lerninlinux＠comcast.net 08 Dec '04

08 Dec '04

I am looking to buy a usb enclosure for my brother, as he has one with the problematic prolific chipset. I am wondering who has one and what chipset is uses as he wants to boot from this and use it as a portable drive for system updates and security patchs (he is on dialup in the country). Any help is appreciated thanks Randal

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RE: SSH Timeouts
by Leonard, Phil 08 Dec '04

08 Dec '04

>(I remember when we upgraded from the accoustic coupler to a >direct connection and went to 56 Baud (NOT 56K).) Hmmm, that's got me beat. My first dial up was on an acoustic coupler running at 134.5 Baud. That's the speed that the old IBM 2741 Selectric-based printing terminals ran at.

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KCLUG December 2004