How to install src.rpm file

synops · #1 17th August 2011, 03:24 AM

hey

I just wanted to install ViPEC program which has no rpm file in repository. So downloaded ViPEC-3.2.0-1.src.rpm from sourceforge. Tried to install using package manager it gave the reply

Code:

could not do simulate: Backend will not install a src rpm file

So I googled src.rpm came up with http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...m-file-245358/

Code:

$ rpm -ivh ViPEC-3.2.0-1.src.rpm 
   1:ViPEC                  ########################################### [100%]
$ rpmbuild --rebuild ViPEC-3.2.0-1.src.rpm 
Installing ViPEC-3.2.0-1.src.rpm
error: line 11: Unknown tag: Copyright: GPL
$ rpmbuild -bi ViPEC-3.2.0-1.src.rpm 
~ViPEC-3.2.0-1.src.rpm does not appear to be a specfile.

Any help ...any one

PS : Any tutorial what is this src.rpm?

smr54 · #2 17th August 2011, 03:59 AM

Quick answer is that srpms are source rpms--they aren't the binary, they're what can be used to build the binary rpm package.

Apparently, it's an older rpm--something like Unknown tag is always a bad sign, meaning that something in the nature of rpm syntax has changed. It's probably now license GPL instead of copyright. Or, it may be made for a different version of Linux

Generally, one installs an srpm file then builds it in their home directory, rather than using root.
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/l-rpm1/

Although that is about building from scratch, rather than building from an srpm.

http://perso.b2b2c.ca/sarrazip/dev/r...sh-course.html

Might also be of use.

Looking at the spec file, they say it's being built for Mandrake and RedHat. You might find it quicker to try to build from the tarball if you have any experience with that. Looking at the instructions for building from source, seems pretty easy and probably easier than whipping the rpm into shape if you aren't experienced with doing that (and your question about what is a srpm indicates that you're probably new to this.)

synops · #3 17th August 2011, 04:22 AM

@smr54 Thanks for the info. Will try to install from tar file. Help much appreciated.

lystor · #4 17th August 2011, 07:46 AM

Hi
ViPEC-3.2.0-1.src.rpm is too old and unsupported (released on 2003).
You will have problems on rebuilding it with Qt4.
Try other software.