How to make a RPM?

paragkalra · 10-29-2007, 01:16 PM

Hi Folks,

I downloaded firefox tar ball firefox-2.0.0.6.tar.gz. I extracted to a folder named firefox. Also I have installed the firefox and is going great.

Just a formal question: How can I use rpmbuild command to make the rpm of the firefox tarball. I am reading the man page of rpmbuild but finding it bit confusing.

So can anyone share the best and easiest way of making the rpm of it.

Waiting for your reply....

bigrigdriver · 10-29-2007, 01:29 PM

Look through the contents of the tarball. Look for a file name that ends with .spec. That is the .spec file that rpmbuild needs. It tells rpmbuild what to do with the tarball.

If there isn't one, you could try writing your own .spec file. For guidence on that, check the documentation at the RedHat website. Look for a book called Maximum RPM. It used to be available free to download. It takes you through the entire process (with example code) of writing an rpm .spec file.

Another option is to search for a firefox .src.rpm, which included the .spec file and the tarball. Even if it's a different version, you may be able to edit the .spec file to work with the tarball you have now (basically making your own .src.rpm to use to compile your own .rpm).

paragkalra · 10-29-2007, 02:20 PM

Thanx for the reply,

One more formal question. Can every tar ball be converted to a rpm? Or it depends on the source code. What I mean to say is that is there any restriction on what can be made or what can't be made to a rpm?

paragkalra · 10-29-2007, 04:55 PM

Hey I have just learned how to build the rpm using the spec file. Thanks to every one.

But I am running through a different problem now.

I am trying to build a rpm from the source files present inside /usr/voltaire using rpmbuild.

The directory (/usr/voltaire) contains 64-bit shared objects in /usr/voltaire/lib/.

Quote:

demoxe:/usr/voltaire/lib # file *
libdapl.so: ELF 64-bit LSB shared object, AMD x86-64, version 1 (SYSV), not stripped
libdat.so: ELF 64-bit LSB shared object, AMD x86-64, version 1 (SYSV), not stripped
libitapi.so: ELF 64-bit LSB shared object, AMD x86-64, version 1 (SYSV), not stripped
libucm.so: ELF 64-bit LSB shared object, AMD x86-64, version 1 (SYSV), not stripped
libugsi.a: current ar archive
libugsi.so: ELF 64-bit LSB shared object, AMD x86-64, version 1 (SYSV), not stripped
sock-redirect-env.32.so: ELF 64-bit LSB shared object, AMD x86-64, version 1 (SYSV), not stripped
sock-redirect-env.so: ELF 64-bit LSB shared object, AMD x86-64, version 1 (SYSV), not stripped
sock-redirect.32.so: ELF 64-bit LSB shared object, AMD x86-64, version 1 (SYSV), not stripped
sock-redirect.so: ELF 64-bit LSB shared object, AMD x86-64, version 1 (SYSV), not stripped

But rpmbuild command says 64-bit objects should be placed in lib64/ dir
(in this case, will be /usr/voltaire/lib64/).
So rpmbuild returns error and stops building a rpm.

How can I overcome this error?

jailbait · 10-29-2007, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paragkalra

Hi Folks,

I downloaded firefox tar ball firefox-2.0.0.6.tar.gz. I extracted to a folder named firefox. Also I have installed the firefox and is going great.

Just a formal question: How can I use rpmbuild command to make the rpm of the firefox tarball. I am reading the man page of rpmbuild but finding it bit confusing.

So can anyone share the best and easiest way of making the rpm of it.

Waiting for your reply....

If you are only building the binary rpm (and not the source rpm) then I recommend that you use checkinstall.

http://www.asic-linux.com.mx/~izto/checkinstall/

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Steve Stites