confused new zaurus owner

[mielikki]

Would a good HOWTO be in order? I can see only two package related HOWTOs in the wiki:

• IPKG HowTo (how to create an IPK for the Zaurus)
  
• Installing IPKs from the command line
  

[Miami_Bob]

mielikki -

A *couple* of \"How To\"s would be good, but my own interest is more in a good comprehensive \"Why For?\"  <G>.

Cookbook \"How To\"s (IMHO) can\'t really substitute for an understanding of whats beneath the instructions & why those instructions work in some circumstances but fail in others.

For example - I just recently worked out why you can\'t simply rename an AR-IPK to \".deb\" and have the .deb installers (esp dpkg) recognize it. Which you SHOULD be able to do, if both were in the same \"ar\" format <G>.

A few small but very significant differences in the way dpkg output & \"true\" ar output is structured makes the difference between compatibility and frustration <G>.

What really troubles me is that I have been finding, from the web record, that those who know these details are resistant to making them public knowledge. It starts to look rather \"proprietary\", IMHO.

So, in responce, I tend to dig like a beagle till I find out what details are not being released then post them prominently & frequently. Makes me somewhat of a PITA at times, I know <G> but as a very firm believer in peer review & open disclosure ...... \"geeks gotta know!\" <G>

Those not interested in the \"details\", feel free to put me on your \"TwitList\", please!


Bob W
aka Tocsin
Miami FL

[mielikki]

I\'d encourage you to summarize your finding on how it all works on a new page in the Wiki!

[Miami_Bob]

I\'d encourage you to summarize your finding on how it all works on a new page in the Wiki!

Yup. Working on that very thing <G>.

[waalkman]

Very helpful discussion guys, thanks!


John

[roderickv]

Hello all I have been searching throught the posts trying to solve an install problem I am having. The problem the Guest described at the beginning of this thread is similar so I thought I would try and solicited any help you all would be willing to provide.

Here is my problem: I can not install programs. I have downloaded several programs including the hot fix for the cacko ROM I am currently running. I can go to the Package Installer and it shows all the packages  fine (including the file cacko-qtopia-rom-hotfix_arm.ipk which is the hot fix. When I I try to install any pagkage from the installer I get the following error: \"the filename of this package has been changed from orginal. Please change the filename to \'cacko-qtopia-rom-hotfiix_arm.ipk\' (for example) and retry install\" I have tried renaming the files with no success. I then went to the Konsol and renamed the hotfix file from there and verified that it was in the Install_Files directory. I tried it again and got the following message: \"ipkg says something went wrong. Sorry.

I got a suggestion from someone else in the forum to try:
ipkg install [filename] from within the Konsol command prompt.
That produced the following:

$ ipkg install cracko-qtopia-rom-hotfix_1.ipk
The following package were previously requested but have not been installed:
error
Install them now [Y/n] ? y
filename - __.ipk

Downloading /__.ipk ...
/__.ipk: Invalid host name.
ipkg_download: ERROR: Failed to retrieve /__.ipk, returning
ipkg_get_install: Perhaps you need to run `ipkg update\'?

When I try \"ipkg update\" I get the following:
$ ipkg update
mkdir: Cannot create directory \'/usr/lib/ipkg/lists\' : Permission denied

Any suggestions?

[Miami_Bob]

I got a suggestion from someone else in the forum to try:

ipkg install [filename] from within the Konsol command prompt.
That produced the following:  

$ ipkg install cracko-qtopia-rom-hotfix_1.ipk
The following package were previously requested but have not been installed:
error
Install them now [Y/n] ? y
filename - __.ipk

Downloading /__.ipk ...
/__.ipk: Invalid host name.
ipkg_download: ERROR: Failed to retrieve /__.ipk, returning
ipkg_get_install: Perhaps you need to run `ipkg update\'?

When I try \"ipkg update\" I get the following:
$ ipkg update
mkdir: Cannot create directory \'/usr/lib/ipkg/lists\' : Permission denied

Any suggestions?

roderickv

I have no experience with the Cacko ROM, but from the message you get using ($ ipkg update), I would try going su (or sudo) before issuing the command & see what that returns.

Seem to recall that there is also a command line switch to \"over rule\" ipkg when it becomes \"too smart\". Try ipkg -h or -? to see if it gives you a help list of command switches.

Don\'t give up!  (G)

[ScottYelich]

this is a known problem with ipks that have failed to install..

The solution I believe is elsewhere on this site -- and perhaps also in a faq.

From memory.... pleaes forgive me -- but there is a file... perhaps /usr/lib/ipkg/lists or something
and there will be a package that was installed that failed -- usually it\'s at the end, because nothing
wants to go in after that broken install.  I forget what the status of the install is, but it is not
complete -- so the system tries to install a blank name package over and over...

just remove that section of the file -- and your ipkg will work again.

I\'m sorry I can\'t be more specific -- I\'m too lazy to look up the proper dir+file now and I don\'t have
my Z online or in front of me....

but, you CAN fix this error -- so don\'t worry.

Scott

[Miami_Bob]

From memory.... pleaes forgive me -- but there is a file... perhaps /usr/lib/ipkg/lists or something and there will be a package that was installed that failed -- usually it\'s at the end,  

I\'m sorry I can\'t be more specific -- I\'m too lazy to look up the proper dir+file now and I don\'t have my Z online or in front of me....  

but, you CAN fix this error -- so don\'t worry.

Scott

Not too shabby memory, Scott. C860 path is

/home/root/user/lib/ipkg/info/

[roderickv]

Thanks all! With your help, I got it working.