[Apt-Rpm] Apt-rpm on embedded Linux, is it impossible?

Quan phongvan phongvan84 at gmail.com
Tue Jan 15 23:01:23 PST 2008


Dear jean-seb,
If you don't mind, I really need your help for my problems:
1. I wonder about how apt-rpm deal with RPM packages dependency list, can
you show me some detailed advice on the way how apt-rpm resolve these
dependencies ?
2. Have you ever try embedded systems that run on PowerPC (such as: PPC7400
series), and is that system lack of swap memory, how will you find out
solutions to deal with ?
Hope to see your reply soon.
Best regards,
Nguyen Anh Quan.

On Jan 15, 2008 12:26 PM, js <jsh at interlug-fr.org> wrote:

> Quan phongvan wrote:
> > Dear jean-seb,
> > If you don't mind, can you help me about these aspects that I have to
> > consider more about apt as a update-tool.
> > 1. About protocols are supported by apt-rpm, I care so much about http
> > and ftp because they both issue security threats: http using plan text
> > to pass through their passwords for communication and so easily for
> > hacker to do session hijack, in addition ftp passive mode also can be
> > considered as a security threat too. Can you give me more advices for
> > that issue?
>
> I hope all your code is GPL :)
> for apt, Panu can answer better than I, but yes apt use http or ftp.
> If you really want to secure the connexions, you can built a openvpn
> tunnel; all the transfers will be encrypted.
>
> Second part: the security is based on the gpg signature of the rpm
> package; if a bad guy try to corrupt a rpm: apt will not install it (if
> you use the
> lua scrip gp-check.lua)
>
> > 2. I have tried puppet as a update tool for my system beside apt
> > (puppet is a configuration management tool). If you tried puppet, do
> > you think can I use both apt and puppet as an update solution for a
> > huge rpm embedded Linux network system (apt as a front-end update tool
> > on client, and puppet-puppetmaster as administration host)?
> > Hope to see your reply soon,
> > Best regards,
> > Nguyen Anh Quan.
>
> Could be a good idea; the best way for an network/system admin is always
> to do the less :)
>
>
>
> >
> > On Jan 14, 2008 4:04 PM, js <jsh at interlug-fr.org
> > <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org>> wrote:
> >
> >     Quan phongvan wrote:
> >     > Dear jean-seb,
> >     > I'm so surprised at receiving your reply so fast, thank you very
> >     much.
> >     I'm at work, so I've time :)
> >
> >
> >     > But if you don't mind, may i ask you a favour to help me clear out
> >     > some issues that confused me.
> >     > 1. As you mentioned: "I tested urpmi, apt and yum". While you
> tested
> >     > both three update tools: urpmi, smart, apt, what were the most
> >     > important aspects that had impacts on your judgement for
> >     choosing the
> >     > best update tools candidate (in your case is apt-rpm). And
> comparing
> >     > to urmpi and yum, what were obstacles that make urpmi and yum
> >     did not
> >     > match with your requirements as a update tool?
> >     urpmi: use perl, ocaml, and C  ; a good tool but too big and slow.
> >     yum: too buggy , slow and need python to run.
> >
> >     It was 3 years ago, before yum begin to be the default update tool
> in
> >     Fedora.
> >
> >
> >
> >     > 2. As I knew, apt-rpm has LUA as a interpreter embedded language
> >     that
> >     > provide users a lot of powerful option in apt-* command line,
> >     because
> >     > I'm just beginner in LUA, can you give more instructions and
> >     advices
> >     > to skilled in LUA as apt-rpm power tool (I easily followed the
> >     > intructios that apt-rpm.org <http://apt-rpm.org>
> >     <http://apt-rpm.org <http://apt-rpm.org>> provides but I think
> >     > they not enough for me toseriously use it).
> >
> >     I'm not a power user of Lua too :)
> >     the main cool stuff is the gpg-check lua script than you can find
> >     everywhere
> >     (it is in this rpm too:
> >
> http://www.gralinux.org/gralinux/AS3/i686/SRPMS/apt-0.5.15cnc7-5gral.src.rpm
> >     )
> >
> >
> >     > 3. Because my progess is under investigeting phrase and I'm still
> >     > transparent from my target machine's configuration, so I'm sorry
> >     that
> >     > I doesn't have more specified specs for you. If you don't mind,
> >     I hope
> >     > to receive your help in near future for that issue.
> >     > Hope to see your reply soon.
> >     > Best regards,
> >     > Nguyen Anh Quan.
> >     >
> >
> >     That's the main problem:
> >     If your embedded system is a big one (Like the model we use at
> >     air-austral); you don't need to tweak a lot the system;
> >     so after all, you can use yum or whatever you want.
> >
> >     But if your cpu is slow (<100Mhz) and you have limited ram (4 or 8
> Mo)
> >     .. I think you will need a specific distro .. and maybe use debian
> >     instead of Rpm based distro:
> >     so .. apt or nothing :)
> >
> >     Regards
> >
> >
> >     js.
> >
> >
> >
> >     > On Jan 14, 2008 2:20 PM, js <jsh at interlug-fr.org
> >     <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org>
> >     > <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org>>> wrote:
> >     >
> >     >     Quan phongvan wrote:
> >     >     > Dear Jean-seb,
> >     >     > It's so kind of you to answer all of my issues with very
> >     useful
> >     >     > informations. I really appreciate it.
> >     >     > But I still have some things from your reply, and I hope
> that
> >     >     you can
> >     >     > clear them for me, thank you in advance.
> >     >     > 1. You mentioned: "No, it use apt only, personally I hate
> >     yum and
> >     >     > don't understand why create an other tool for rpm based
> >     distro, apt
> >     >     > was already here and do the work well; and the best,". I
> >     think that
> >     >     > while yum has released its stable version so long time ago,
> >     >     apt-rpm is
> >     >     > still under developing (testing version). In addition, yum
> >     has a
> >     >     huge
> >     >     > developer resource behind, if we consider update tool from
> >     business
> >     >     > point of view, can yum become a update tool candidate?
> >     >
> >     >     Linux, the glibc, gcc, KDE are still in development too :)
> >     >     apt is very very stable and do the job nicely for years (I
> >     use the old
> >     >     apt from conectiva, before to update to the Lorg version).
> >     >     That's not because apt is still in devel than it is not
> >     ready for
> >     >     production.
> >     >
> >     >
> >     >     > 2. About yum and python, I was already clear, thank you
> >     for your
> >     >     > model, it's so easy for me to understand the problem. If
> >     you don't
> >     >     > mind, have you ever tried smartpm as a update tool on your
> >     embedded
> >     >     > system (smartpm similar to yum and apt-rpm, it uses python
> >     also), if
> >     >     > yes do you have any advice for me about smartpm?
> >     >
> >     >     smartrpm??? I never test it.
> >     >     apt was used by conectiva linux for the whole distro, but
> >     smartrpm not
> >     >     .... and smartrpm was too young 3 years ago.
> >     >     Maybe now, you can take time to test it and see if it is the
> >     good
> >     >     tool
> >     >     for you.
> >     >     To me, an important thing was to have one update tool for
> >     both Debian
> >     >     and Rpms distro; so ... apt was used :)
> >     >     yum was ... sorry but, a real crap (I tested urpmi, apt and
> >     yum)
> >     >
> >     >     > 3. My target system run on a very tiny Linux clone (mini-ram
> >     >     embeeded
> >     >     > Linux - RPM system, like VxWorks), it lacks development
> >     tool such as
> >     >     > gcc and XWindow, so will apt-rpm run well on these systems?.
> >     >     I think, yes.
> >     >     You have some specs??
> >     >
> >     >
> >     >     > Beside, our update tool connect Internet through firewall
> for
> >     >     security
> >     >     > purpose to do system-update, so we must consider some
> >     security
> >     >     issues
> >     >     > such as: session hijack or disguise of server. Do you have
> any
> >     >     > comments for me with apt-rpm to deal with these problems?
> >     >     All the rpms are signed, and don't install if the rpm is not
> >     >     signed with
> >     >     the right gpg key :)
> >     >     This is in the apt-get lua config (see /etc/apt/apt.conf :
> >     >
> >     >     Scripts
> >     >     {
> >     >      Init { "gpg-import.lua"; };
> >     >      PM
> >     >      {
> >     >        Pre { "gpg-check.lua"; };
> >     >        Post { " upgradevirt.lua"; };
> >     >      };
> >     >      AptGet
> >     >      {
> >     >        Upgrade { "upgradevirt.lua "; };
> >     >        DistUpgrade {"upgradevirt.lua"; };
> >     >        Install::SelectPackage { "upgradevirt.lua"; };
> >     >        Install::PreResolve { "upgradevirt.lua"; };
> >     >        Install::TranslateArg { " upgradevirt.lua"; };
> >     >      };
> >     >      Synaptic
> >     >      {
> >     >        DistUpgrade { "upgradevirt.lua"; };
> >     >      }
> >     >     }
> >     >
> >     >
> >     >     So, if a bad guy changes one or more rpms, they will not be
> >     installed,
> >     >     and the only way to install them will be to deactivate the
> >     >     gpg-check.lua
> >     >     script
> >     >     or use the command rpm -ivh yourRPM.rpm by hand.
> >     >
> >     >     Regards
> >     >
> >     >     js.
> >     >
> >     >
> >     >
> >     >     > Thank you very much.
> >     >     > Hope to see your reply soon.
> >     >     > Best regards,
> >     >     > Nguyen Anh Quan.
> >     >     >
> >     >     >
> >     >     > On Jan 13, 2008 12:09 AM, jean-seb < jsh at interlug-fr.org
> >     <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org>
> >     >     <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org>>
> >     >     > <mailto: jsh at interlug-fr.org <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org>
> >     <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org>>>> wrote:
> >     >     >
> >     >     >     Quan phongvan a écrit :
> >     >     >     > Dear Jean-seb,
> >     >     >     > It's so nice for me to hear that from you. If you
> >     don't mind,
> >     >     >     can you
> >     >     >     > give me more advices for my issues:
> >     >     >     > 1. For your mentioned RHEL clone that you used on your
> >     >     embedded
> >     >     >     > system, Does it have yum as RPM packages management
> >     >     systems. If yes,
> >     >     >     > can apt-rpm beats yum as a update tool?
> >     >     >
> >     >     >     it is use in Debian and Rpm based distro, so when you
> >     swith
> >     >     into
> >     >     >     Debian
> >     >     >     and Rpm distro, no problem: apt-get update, apt-get
> >     dist-upgrade
> >     >     >     ... :)
> >     >     >
> >     >     >
> >     >     >     > 2. As you mentioned "apt is faster than light , and it
> >     >     don't need
> >     >     >     > python; so the memory it use is not a big issue.", I
> >     think
> >     >     >     apt-rpm has
> >     >     >     > a big dependency list (especially when I compiled
> >     apt-rpm from
> >     >     >     source
> >     >     >     > code, it required a lot of packages such as: beecrypt,
> >     >     zlib,...).
> >     >     >     > About python, does it really become the most biggest
> >     obstacle
> >     >     >     for yum
> >     >     >     > or even smartpm (an update tool for RPM packages
> similar
> >     >     to yum and
> >     >     >     > apt-rpm).
> >     >     >     Yum use python and a lot of sub-modules (how it query
> >     the rpm
> >     >     >     database?);
> >     >     >     the main problem I see: you need a pre-interpreter to
> >     run yum:
> >     >     >     So you can resume it by:
> >     >     >     kernel -> glibc -> python -> pre-compiling -> yum+ extra
> >     >     modules
> >     >     >
> >     >     >     for apt:
> >     >     >     kernel -> glibc -> libs (stdc++, zlib) -> apt
> >     >     >
> >     >     >     Pre-compiled software runs always faster ( C and C++ are
> >     >     faster than
> >     >     >     Python).
> >     >     >
> >     >     >     If you have time: you can test this 'theory' with gdb
> and
> >     >     see what
> >     >     >     program (yum or apt) use the most of memory :)
> >     >     >
> >     >     >
> >     >     >     > 3. In addition, can you give more details why did
> >     you mention
> >     >     >     about HP
> >     >     >     > Server ProLiant in: "it is faster that the same
> >     version in
> >     >     Proliant
> >     >     >     > Servers ! (maybe because /var is in ram?)".
> >     >     >
> >     >     >     We use one distro (Gralinux AS 3; a RHEL clone with
> >     some tweaks;
> >     >     >     webmin,
> >     >     >     openvpn, more iptables modules etc..) on both Embedded
> >     >     systems and
> >     >     >     Servers: the binaries are strictly the same.
> >     >     >     we have a lot of HP proliant and when i apply updates,
> >     apt
> >     >     is far
> >     >     >     faster
> >     >     >     on embedded devices than on the big Proliant :) : a
> >     >     read/write issue i
> >     >     >     think ;)
> >     >     >     We all know than hard drive are ..  slow :-/ , specially
> >     >     with Raid
> >     >     >     5 ...
> >     >     >
> >     >     >     > Hope to receive your advice soon,
> >     >     >     > Best regards,
> >     >     >     > Nguyen Anh Quan.
> >     >     >
> >     >     >     Regards
> >     >     >
> >     >     >     js.
> >     >     >
> >     >     >     Air-Austral flight Company.
> >     >     >     http://www.air-austral.com <http://www.air-austral.com>
> >     >     >
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >     > On Jan 11, 2008 7:13 PM, jean-seb
> >     <jsh at interlug-fr.org <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org>
> >     >     <mailto: jsh at interlug-fr.org <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org>>
> >     >     >     <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org
> >     <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org> <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org
> >     <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org>>>
> >     >     >     > <mailto: jsh at interlug-fr.org
> >     <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org> <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org
> >     <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org>>
> >     >     <mailto: jsh at interlug-fr.org <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org>
> >     <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org <mailto:jsh at interlug-fr.org>>>> > wrote:
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >     >     Quan phongvan a écrit :
> >     >     >     >     > Dear friends,
> >     >     >     >     >
> >     >     >     >     > I've studied apt-rpm as a candidate update
> >     tool for RPM
> >     >     >     packages
> >     >     >     >     > management system, because my target device
> >     run on
> >     >     >     embedded Linux
> >     >     >     >     > (like Vxworks - an RTOS of windriver).
> >     >     >     >     > If you don't mind, I hope that someone has
> >     tried using
> >     >     >     apt-rpm on an
> >     >     >     >     > embedded system such as VxWorks and can share
> >     me his
> >     >     >     experiences. I
> >     >     >     >     > really appreciate it.
> >     >     >     >     > Thank you for your attention,
> >     >     >     >     > Nguyen Anh Quan.
> >     >     >     >     > --
> >     >     >     >     > Never walk alone
> >     >     >     >     >
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >     >     I use apt in a RHEL clone for embedded systems
> >     (openvpn,
> >     >     >     firewall and
> >     >     >     >     tons of stuffs like snort etc..):
> >     >     >     >     it runs on a Via C3 533Mhz, 512Mo ram (256 for
> >     the system
> >     >     >     memory, and
> >     >     >     >     256 for /var and /tmp in read/write mode);
> >     >     >     >     the rest of the system is on a CF 512mo in read
> only
> >     >     (ext3 with
> >     >     >     >     some tweaks)
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >     >     apt is faster than light , and it don't need
> python;
> >     >     so the
> >     >     >     memory it
> >     >     >     >     use is not a big issue.
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >     >     it is faster that the same version in Proliant
> >     Servers
> >     >     ! (maybe
> >     >     >     >     because
> >     >     >     >     /var is in ram?)
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >     >     A good choice for a "big" embedded system.
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >     >     Regards.
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >     >     js
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >     >     Air-Austral flight Company.
> >     >     >     >     http://www.air-austral.com
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >     >     _______________________________________________
> >     >     >     >     Apt-Rpm mailing list
> >     >     >     >     Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>
> >     >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>>
> >     >     >     <mailto: Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>
> >     >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>>> <mailto:
> >     >     >     Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>
> >     >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>>
> >     >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>
> >     >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>>>>
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >
> >     >
> >     http://lists.laiskiainen.org/listinfo.cgi/apt-rpm-laiskiainen.org
> >     >     >     <
> >     >
> >     http://lists.laiskiainen.org/listinfo.cgi/apt-rpm-laiskiainen.org
> >     <http://lists.laiskiainen.org/listinfo.cgi/apt-rpm-laiskiainen.org>>
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >     > --
> >     >     >     > Never walk alone
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >
> >     >
> >
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >     >
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >     > _______________________________________________
> >     >     >     > Apt-Rpm mailing list
> >     >     >     > Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>
> >     >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>> <mailto:
> >     >     Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>>>
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >
> >     >
> >     http://lists.laiskiainen.org/listinfo.cgi/apt-rpm-laiskiainen.org
> >     >     <
> >     http://lists.laiskiainen.org/listinfo.cgi/apt-rpm-laiskiainen.org>
> >     >     >
> >     >     <
> >     http://lists.laiskiainen.org/listinfo.cgi/apt-rpm-laiskiainen.org >
> >     >     >     >
> >     >     >
> >     >     >     _______________________________________________
> >     >     >     Apt-Rpm mailing list
> >     >     >     Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>
> >     >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>> <mailto:
> >     >     Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>>>
> >     >     >
> >     >
> >     http://lists.laiskiainen.org/listinfo.cgi/apt-rpm-laiskiainen.org
> >     >     <
> >     http://lists.laiskiainen.org/listinfo.cgi/apt-rpm-laiskiainen.org>
> >     >     >
> >     >     >
> >     >     >
> >     >     >
> >     >     > --
> >     >     > Never walk alone
> >     >     >
> >     >
> >
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >     >     >
> >     >     > _______________________________________________
> >     >     > Apt-Rpm mailing list
> >     >     > Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org> <mailto:
> >     Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >>
> >     >     >
> >     >
> >     http://lists.laiskiainen.org/listinfo.cgi/apt-rpm-laiskiainen.org
> >     <http://lists.laiskiainen.org/listinfo.cgi/apt-rpm-laiskiainen.org>
> >     >
> >     <http://lists.laiskiainen.org/listinfo.cgi/apt-rpm-laiskiainen.org>
> >     >     >
> >     >
> >     >     _______________________________________________
> >     >     Apt-Rpm mailing list
> >     >     Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> >     <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>>
> >     >
> >     http://lists.laiskiainen.org/listinfo.cgi/apt-rpm-laiskiainen.org
> >     >
> >     >
> >     >
> >     >
> >     > --
> >     > Never walk alone
> >     >
> >
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >     >
> >     > _______________________________________________
> >     > Apt-Rpm mailing list
> >     > Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org <mailto:
> Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>
> >     > http://lists.laiskiainen.org/listinfo.cgi/apt-rpm-laiskiainen.org
> >     >
> >
> >     _______________________________________________
> >     Apt-Rpm mailing list
> >     Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org <mailto:Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org>
> >     http://lists.laiskiainen.org/listinfo.cgi/apt-rpm-laiskiainen.org
> >     <http://lists.laiskiainen.org/listinfo.cgi/apt-rpm-laiskiainen.org>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Never walk alone
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Apt-Rpm mailing list
> > Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> > http://lists.laiskiainen.org/listinfo.cgi/apt-rpm-laiskiainen.org
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> Apt-Rpm mailing list
> Apt-Rpm at lists.laiskiainen.org
> http://lists.laiskiainen.org/listinfo.cgi/apt-rpm-laiskiainen.org
>



-- 
Never walk alone
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.laiskiainen.org/pipermail/apt-rpm-laiskiainen.org/attachments/20080116/9271cbb3/attachment-0003.htm>


More information about the Apt-Rpm mailing list