> I should have phrased my point better. Thanks for point that out. To make it
> short (more elaboration below):
>
> Instead of hard-coding the information about package replacements and
> package importance into an update-tool, it could be put into the package
> header and rpm should be able to read and *use* that information for the
> "Freshen" command.
The information is in the headers of respective packages, not in RPM
binary itself. RPM is just about the only tool to really use them.
I haven't used it myself, but there has been a package
rpmdb-redhat-<version> for some time now. AFAIK this contains all the
relevant information on all packages in that release.
It isn't being utilized very much, though. RPM has an option to use it,
but I don't know of any apps that do (not that I've really looked)..
> Additionally with "rpm" I'm not necessarily referring to the program
> /bin/rpm itself. The described functionality could be placed in an auxiliary
> program -- but that program should be distributed together with rpm!
>
> On Sat, Aug 05, 2000 at 04:13:32PM +0300, Pekka Savola wrote:
> > All of this is possible with current versions of RPM.
>
> Not really. The fields are there, but the information doesn't get used and
> thats why they are often not filled out, even with RedHat's own RPMs. For
> example, while the package might have a "Replaces" field, RPM, in contrast
> to Debians apt-get, it won't look at it and say (for example)
> "samba-common replaces samba and suggest samba-server plus
> samba-client, so thats what I'm going to use for the update"
>
> Instead, RPM will see that "samba" has vanished and complain -- without even
> informing the user that replacements are available.
An example using OpenSSH (not 100% correct):
Name: openssh
Obsoletes: ssh ssh-clients
Requires: openssl >= 0.9.5a
Provides: ssh
'rpm -F openssh-xxx.rpm'
This updates ssh-1.2.27 and "removes" the package 'ssh' just fine,
checks that you have necessary components installed, and provides
meta-package 'ssh' for other packages which might have Requires: ssh line.
RPM isn't just that talkative as Debian I think :)
--
Pekka Savola "Tell me of difficulties surmounted,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] not those you stumble over and fall"
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