Linux CD's

[GrimR]

I have a number of linux flavours, one spindle of linux CD's from red hat 7 through 9, fedora 1-4 [formally red hat], Suse 8 - 10. Mandrake, Ubuntu, RHEL, SLES.
Is it possible to install application or games from other versions to what I currently have running [mandrake].
If yes how.

 

[thedaver]

Generally spanning that many distributions will be a problem because:
- Different versions of glibc and supporting libs
- Different places standard and supporting libraries are placed
- Compiler optimizations for processors long dead
- Incompatible package formats and tools

You may find bliss in some of the more recent distros that use the same package management as your's.

You can always compile from source or look for versions that are compatible with your distro.

D.E.R. Management - IT Project Management Consulting

http://www.dermanagement.com/

 

[RhythmAce]

Many of those use the rpm package manager. If I remember correctly, that includes mandrake. This means you should be able to use 'yum' to update or install almost any package. If you have yum installed, the syntax is as simple as 'yum update packagename ' or 'yum install packagename '. Most software developers produce both a tarball version and rpm versions of their software.

 

[AP81]

IMHO, the best option is to find the disto that best suits you and stick to it. It is too much work and a headache to have so many distros.

It is more of a headache to try and use packages from one distribution to another as thedaver has pointed out.

Ubuntu has the biggest repositories of any in your list, you should be able to install most of what you need from there (using apt-get).

 

[GrimR]

Thanks for the replies.
The reason for so many distros, is I was looking once for setting up a proxy using winbind, but even after getting fairly far and almost having it working, we ended up out sourcing. So I just wanted to know if it was possible to mix different rpm's.

 

[thedaver]

I still want my vote on record that it's probably a risk if you try to mix .RPMs from different distros or even from 2-3 versions difference of the same distro. They are precompiled with library dependencies and will also want to see other dependencies satisfied the minute you start with yum.

I think you're asking for a heartbreak myself if you mix too much. Consider all but the newest distro CDs as drink coasters or rescue CDs and leave it at that.

My $0.02 USD.

D.E.R. Management - IT Project Management Consulting

http://www.dermanagement.com/