Setting Up A Feed

From OESF

Revision as of 00:46, 1 November 2007

Howto set up a feed to install ipk's over your LAN or on your Linux web server.

To set up a server to serve ipks for the "network installer" (or web server) a "Feed" needs to be created. A Feed is just a directory with a "Packages" file listing all of the ipk's in the directory and some basic information about each ipk's. The directory that has the feed needs to be on a web or ftp server.

Setting up the server

Set up a web or ftp server and create a feed directory. It can be named anything, but for the howto will be referred to as "~feed/".

Fill the feed

Place any ipk's that will be hosted on the feed into the feed directory. Note that only one version of each package can be in the feed and if there are older versions the script will try to move them into an "old" directory. If the old directory doesn't exist the files will be left where they are, but ignored.

Generate the Packages file with ipkg-make-index.sh

Download the following script. [ipkg-make-index.sh]
OpenZaurus Note - OZ uses a different .ipk format so a different script is required to set up a feed for OZ. This script provided by [Uwe] - [OZ-ipkg-make-index.sh]

Make sure the ipkg-make-index.sh file is executable.

#chmod +x ipkg-make-index.sh

ipkg-make-index.sh requires that the directory of the feed is passed into the arguments. The script will output a "Packages" file to stdout which can then be piped into the Packages file of the feed directory.

#ipkg-make-index.sh ~feed/ > ~feed/Packages

Cron jobs

If the feed is being updated constantly it might be worthy to set up a cron job that will generate the feed Packages file automatically.

Utilizing the new feed on the Zaurus

(Sharp ROM)

• Goto the setting tab
• Click Add/Remove Software
• Click install packages via networks
• Click on the switch icon on the bottom left
• Click on the New button and add the following
• Name: AYummyFeed (insert the name of the feed here)
• URL: http://www.foo.com/feed/ (insert the url here!)
• Make sure that all of the feeds are selected and then click ok (i.e. enabling them)
• Click OK and exit the network config.

Install any packages by clicking on the package (the package icon of the package wanted, not the text) you wish to install and then then hitting the "Ok" button in the upper right.

Setting up a local feed on your Windows computer

Below are instructions on how to create a Zaurus software feed on a web server on a Windows PC.

First create a folder called "feed" some where on your hard drive. I recommend putting it at C:\feed

Setup a web server on your PC: I would recommend one like Savant web server http://savant.sourceforge.net/ as it is open source software. Once you have it installed, run it and click on Configuration and then click on the Paths tab. Now click on the New Path button.

In the Local Path: box put the full path the you feed folder that you made in the first step.
(if you click the button with "..." on it you can browse to the folder.)
In the HTTP Path: box put /feed in it. check the "Allow Directory Listing" box and click OK.

Add some ipk files to the folder you created in the first step.

In this folder you need to create a file called Packages. (Make sure it doesn't have any extensions like txt.) The example below has two packages available for download. Each ipk that you want to be available for install must be added to this file.

The MD5Sum portion of this file is used to check that the file has downloaded completely. When you download the file you can run the command: md5 <filename> to check that the checksums match.

       Package: package1
       Priority: optional
       Section: Misc
       Version: 1.02
       Architecture: arm
       Maintainer: bob (bob@aol.com)
       Filename: package1.ipk
       Size: 457689
       MD5Sum: 8175c563ab044f18b90d3324599643c8
       Description: This a game that rocks.

       Package: package2
       Priority: optional
       Section: Misc
       Version: 1.01
       Architecture: arm
       Maintainer: Jim (jim@aol.com)
       Filename: package2.ipk
       Size: 127567
       MD5Sum: ccb71a1c3645b6dd73f43ff443089456
       Description: This a cool utility.

When you have finished placing the ipk files and the Packages file into your feed folder you should be able to view it like this.

http://localhost/feed

It should look something like this in your browser.

Index of /feed

Parent Directory                11-Feb-2003 09:32      -
Packages                        03-Oct-2002 15:02     6k
ant-doc_1.5_arm.ipk             24-Sep-2002 18:21   277k
ant_1.5_arm.ipk                 26-Sep-2002 09:23  1020k

Zaurus setup - (This appears to be a repeat of the "Utilizing a new feed..." section)

First tap the Add/Remove Software app and select Install packages via networks.

Tap the little lightswitch button on the bottom of the Package Servers window.

In the Name field put anything you want.

In the URL put the ip address of your pc. (If on the cradle then probably >http://192.x.x.x/feed).

Then tap the OK button on the top.

Next, tap the Upgrade button to refresh the list.
(The word "Upgrade" is pretty stupid in my opinion. On Open Zaurus it is "Update".)

That should do it. Your list of packages should appear.