NAME¶

pkgenpack - PackageKit Pack Generator

SYNOPSIS¶

pkgenpack [--help] [--verbose] [--with-package-list] [--output] [--package] [--updates]

DESCRIPTION¶

This manual page documents briefly the pkgenpack command.

pkgenpack is the command line client for PackageKit for creating service packs.

WHAT IS A SERVICE PACK?¶

A service pack is a tarball which contains a set of packages and their dependencies. The user can reduce the dependencies to be packed using the --with-package-list option. Along with the dependencies, a service pack has a file named metadata.conf which contains the information about the distribution and creation date of the pack.

CREATING A SERVICE PACK?¶

A service pack is created using the command pkgenpack.

OPTIONS¶

This program follows the usual GNU command line syntax, with long options starting with two dashes (`-´). A summary of options is included below.

--help

--verbose

--with-package-list

--output

--package

--update

NAMING A SERVICE PACK¶

The only valid extension for a service pack is ".servicepack".

EXAMPLES¶

1. Tim is facing problems with his Internet connection at home. He needs a service pack with valgrind and it´s dependencies for his system. He asks James to generate a pack for him. Both know James´s system should contain similar packages as Tim´s system, as both of them have installed Fedora 9 two days ago.

James simply runs:

[james@jamesbook:~]$ pkgenpack --output=/media/USB/TimPacks --package=valgrind

This generates a file /media/USB/TimPacks/valgrind-fedora-9-i686.servicepack on the USB key Tim gave to James. Tim can now go home, insert the USB key and double clicks on the valgrind-fedora-9-i686.servicepack file to be prompted to install these packages.

2. Bill wants to create a service pack named kdegames-fedora-9-i686.servicepack for his new system which does not have an internet connection. He generates a list of packages on his system using pkcon list-create and copies that list to his USB key. He then gives that USB to Rishi who has a good internet connectivity. Rishi runs the following command on his system:

[rishi@devils-temple:~]$ pkgenpack --with-package-list=/media/USB/bill.package-list \


                                   --output=/home/rishi/Desktop --program=kdegames

This generates a service pack, kdegames-fedora-9-i686.servicepack, on Rishi´s Desktop, which can be distributed to Bill and users with similar requirements.

INSTALLING A SERVICE PACK¶

Service Packs can be installed using pkcon. For example:

[hacker@tim-lounge:~]$ pkcon install /media/USB/TimPacks/valgrind-fedora-9-i686.servicepack

SEE ALSO¶

pkmon (1). pkcon(1).

AUTHOR¶

This manual page was written by Shishir Goel crazyontheedge@gmail.com and Richard Hughes richard@hughsie.com.

COPYRIGHT¶

Copyright © 2008 Shishir Goel