Hi all,

I have a problem to solve: I need to install rpm packages via simple user, no root privileges.

Do you know if is there a solution that not imply the rpmdb creation?

Can I create a ~/.rpmmacros file that permit to the simple user to install relocable rpm into fs directory owned by the user?

Yum can solve the problem?

thanks a lot, Arm

you can open the terminal and type
#su-
password:
#yum install packagename

I believe you can specify an alternate rpm db to use as well as an alternate prefix to accomplish what you want.

Perhaps something like the following will work.
You will probably need force it without dependencies.

No way to obtain the same result without the creation of rpmdb?

Thanks, Armando

rpm2cpio to conver rpm to cpio. then unpack cpio in any place you want.
You'll of course lost pre/post install scripts if they present.

Cool!

obviously I'm loosing the dependency check too, can you confirm?

last hope: someone know if the problem can be handle yum side?
In other words, can the simple user run successfully yum install giving it as parameter the rpm relocation path?


Thanks a lot, Arm

Sure ! But you asked for the way to do it without creating rpmdb.
dependencies tracked via rpmdb, so...

Lets get it straight.
There are different reasons why rpm install should be run as root.
Some of them can be worked around, another - can't

1) rpm should put files in the directories where only root has write permissions.
Workaround - relocation path

2) rpm have write to rpmdb. Only root has access to rpmdb
Workaround - specify your own rpmdb with --dbpath

3) Sometimes pre/post install script have to do something only root allowed to do. for example creating new user.
Workaround - run rpm with --noscript option.

4) Sometimes program should have specific owner in order to work.
For example su, sudo, login have to be owned by root and with permission 4755 (root setuid programs)
No workaround

So while (most of) rpms can be installed as regular user to alternative location with alternative rpmdb, why bother ?

You lost most/all of rpm benefits.

In install by regular user case
rpm2cpio looks to me like more cleaner solution

Perfect,

thanks a lot, I'm managing to setup a solution based on creation of new rpmdb. I'm testing the yum install launch by simple user using the new rpmdb, if someone have same links showing the yum setup in this scenario please share that with me

thanks again, Armh

can any tell me the script of yum

how to configure yum through script?

Try

man yum

and

http://prefetch.net/articles/yum.html