The following files are already installed on the system and are being used by another

xpucto · 02-10-2006, 05:23 AM

Hi!

Every time I install a package, I get those messages:

Quote:

The following files are already installed on the system and are being used by another package:
/opt <attribute change only>
/bin(...) <attribute change only>
....
Do you want to install these conflicting files [y,n,?,q]

Why?
What does it mean and what should I actually do?

Thanks for any help.

Hosiah · 02-10-2006, 06:50 AM

Just in case you and I are the only two people on Linuxquestions who have *run* Open Solaris...I'll take a guess: go ahead and install over the old package. Probably each of the software packages include a library file in case the user doesn't have it, so when two packages install the same library there's a conflict. It might help you get your question answered if you include what release/version of Solaris you're running, what package manager you're using, search the package manager manual page for options like verbose output (so it gives you more details), etc.

jlliagre · 02-10-2006, 02:52 PM

Actually the messages aren't about libraries conflicts, but just directories having different prototypes, they are harmless, go ahead.

xpucto · 02-13-2006, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlliagre

Actually the messages aren't about libraries conflicts, but just directories having different prototypes, they are harmless, go ahead.

Thanks for the answer. Whst are directories'prottotypes actually?

jlliagre · 02-13-2006, 07:01 AM

Solaris packages define the permissions and owner of files and directories belonging to them.

A file is required to belong to at most one package, no overlap is allowed, but obviously, directories are shared by different packages so do not need to follow this rule.

"/opt" having different owner/group or rights on some packages you installed is no big deal.

"man pkgproto" for details.