Use fake package users

Categories: LFS

So I need to use user IDs, huh? Wonder how I can catch the output of the script and place it in xml. If that can't be done, I can always use a package-userid xml entity in package.ent.

The first seems to beimpossible as of now and the second is a head ache. I think I will modify the add_user script so that it can be run from host root and make changes to $LFS/etc/passwd and /etc/passwd. Well, The following schema should work.

• The users on host should all belong to a temp group so that they can be removed easily after the build is done. But still I don't like messing my host system.
• The id finding algo should check both the files to find the usable ID. This can be ensured by making the range availiable in host passwd filed, but some how I don't like to depend on that !

nALFS for package user approach

Categories: LFS

Building using nALFS along with package user approach. But it gives errors. Attached the relevent files and log extracts.

nALFS log

I:
I: Starting execution of marked elements...
I:
I: Changing root directory to "/mnt/lfs".
I: Setting environment variable HOME:
I:     /root
I: Setting environment variable TERM:
I:     linux
I: Setting environment variable PS1:
I:     '\u:\w\$ '
I: Setting environment variable PATH:
I:     /usr/lib/pkgusr:/bin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/usr/sbin:/tools/bin
I: Unsetting environment variable CFLAGS.
I: Unsetting environment variable CXXFLAGS.
I: Executing system command in /:
I:     add_package_user 2.6.11.2 linux-libc 10000 20000 linux-libc 10000 20000 || exit 1
-: Will create user linux-libc with uid: 10000
-: Group install has gid 9999
-: Creating group linux-libc with gid 10000
I: Changing to user "linux-libc".
E: User linux-libc doesn't exist.
I: Log file stored in:
I: /root/.nALFS/packages/libc-headers-2.6.11.2.xml
E: Execution failed (1).
I: Total time executing: 00:00:12

libc-linux.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
<!DOCTYPE alfs SYSTEM "../DTD/ALFS.dtd"
[
<!ENTITY % general_entities SYSTEM "../config/general.ent">
<!ENTITY % package_entities SYSTEM "../config/package.ent">

%general_entities;
%package_entities;
]>
<alfs>
  <package name="libc-headers" version="&linux-libc-headers-version;">
    <stage name="Adding the Package User">
      <execute command="add_package_user &linux-libc-headers-version; linux-libc 10000 20000 linux-libc 10000 20000 || exit 1" />
    </stage>
    <stage name="Unpacking">
      <stageinfo>
        <user>linux-libc</user>
      </stageinfo>
      <unpack>
        <digest>&linux-libc-headers-md5;</digest>
        <archive>&packages_dir;/&linux-libc-headers-package;</archive>
        <destination>&package_home;/linux-libc</destination>
      </unpack>
    </stage>
    <stage name="Installing">
      <stageinfo>
        <user>linux-libc</user>
        <base>&package_home;/linux-libc/&linux-libc-headers-directory;</base>
      </stageinfo>
      <!-- Other install instructions here -->
    </stage>
    <stage name="Cleanup">
      <remove>&package_home;/linux-libc/&linux-libc-headers-directory;</remove>
    </stage>
  </package>
</alfs>

Linux From Scratch

Categories: LFS

So I switched to LFS.

You might exclaim, "what the...!! You hardly started with slack." hmm... Yes I did, but I tweaked it a bit but never posted all that here. I don't like documentation much. How ever for the records I ompiled the kernel successfully on my sister's PC with Alan Cox patch (which contains the ITE 8212 drivers) and with yestoall switch (I couldn't figure out the right combination of 'M's, 'Y's and 'N's). It is up and working though a lot inefficient and doesn't have alsa or X in working condition. Now I wanna try out LFS too. So I decided to use this semi-god-of-an-OS as my host and started.

Honestly I don't know much about linux. I don't change them knowing the merits and demerits or anything. There is a way to get something done in everything. I wanted a good one. I thought slack is so down to earth that I can do anything I want with a few config files. The hard part comes in finding them. So I thought if in LFS I build everything from scratch, I place the things where they belong and have better chance of knowing what is where.

Any how I started with the LFS 6.1 and intentionally omitted ALFS. I followed the instructions in chapter and worked till the linux kernel in chapter 8. Then came the problem. Again the same NYM. argh.. any how I did a better job than earlier and got a working kernel. I didn't even have to patch this one. I don't know when it started but 2.6.13.4 has ITE 8212 drivers built into it. *Yeah I deviated from book and went ahead with the latest kernel.* The instructions in book are not much dependent on kernel version and that's the last one to be compiled. so I figured no probs would come.

There are still a few probs. I used udev and hadn't configured /etc/modprobe.conf. I guess most of the probs are due to this. But what matters is my LFS box works.

• kernel boot option vga=791 won't work. Probably fbdev problem. But I compiled it into the kernel, not as module.

.config

Shall upload later