I'm trying to insall apt4rpm-0.64.4-1.noarch.rpm on Mandrake 9.0 and am getting a message saying apt-server is needed. I can't find apt-server anywhere. Anyone know anything about this?

Maybe it is referring to the entries in the sources.list file, which lists the apt repository servers. Does it even finish the rpm install?

Not even. I hesitated to install the devel package but I'm wondering if apt-server is in there. Would be a strange place for it.

What do you need apt4rpm for? mandrake has urpmi which work just as good as apt-get

I want to try them both. URPMI is proprietary to Mandrake. If I rely totally on URPMI I am locked into Mandrake.

Have you tried one on the rpms for Mndk. I saw this one post at rpmfind.net: http://rpmfind.net//linux/RPM/cooker...3mdk.i586.html I would try that over the noarch one you selected.

<sigh> I'll try it, thanks.

What is the difference between just plain "apt" and "apt4rpm" besides the former having a much longer dependency list?

hmmmm. not sure I understand. If you are looking at an rpm of apt or an rpm of apt4rpm, there is no real difference. neither should have dependencies.
If you mean what is the diff between apt (as in the debian installer) and apt that was ported to rpm based distros...well that is a whole other thread.

Take your pick:

http://www.rpmfind.net//linux/RPM/co...3mdk.i586.html

http://www.rpmfind.net//linux/RPM/so...-1.noarch.html

I'm so confused I don't know whether to scratch my watch or wind my ass.

try the top one.

I tried installing the version of apt for Mandrake as suggested:

apt-0.5.5cnc4.1-3mdk.i586.rpm

using the vaunted urpmi and it complains about not having libapt. So I install libapt and it STILL complains about not having f***ing libapt! Furthermore, urpmi didn't do a d*** thing about going out and looking for it on the web as it is claimed to do (yes I have repository sites loaded).

I GIVE UP!

I don't have time for this kind of tail-chasing. F***ing Mandrake is coming off my HD and seven distro CDs and a skimpy manual are going to find their way to the bottom of Santa Monica bay where they belong. If Microsoft products worked like this they'd still be making software for traffic signals and nothing more.

Do I sound just a little frustrated?

yes, you do.

Load up a copy of RH9. go here: apt.freshrpms.net. Grab the rpm for RH9 (the first one on the list). Then:

#rpm -ivh apt.blah, ###.rpm
#apt-get update
#apt-get install synaptic
#synaptic

That will give you apt and synaptic which will allow for a gui package installer.

Just my .02$

I have sent email to the guy who maintains apt for Mandrake Cooker. I'm very interested in hearing his answer, if he has one.

My vision is that apt will become the de facto standard among .rpm-based distros. Apparently people have had success installing it on rh and suse. As I said in a previous post I would like to see it on mdk too instead of proprietary urpmi. The rpm program itself must go away.

The email bounced.

Red Hat answers its email. God I love competition..