[gentoo-user] /usr/portage/packages/Packages - what for?

[Helmut Jarausch]

Hi,

I have the impression that when rsync'ing /usr/portage/packages from
another machine (BINSERVER),
emerge --update --newuse --deep --buildpkg @system @world
doesn't update packages which are upto-date on BINSERVER
but not upto-date on the local machine.

What's the role of the file
/usr/portage/packages/Packages

Many thanks for a hint,
Helmut.

[Frank Steinmetzger]

Post by Helmut Jarausch
Hi,
I have the impression that when rsync'ing /usr/portage/packages from
another machine (BINSERVER),
doesn't update packages which are upto-date on BINSERVER
but not upto-date on the local machine.
What's the role of the file
/usr/portage/packages/Packages

Here it stores alotta info about the binary packages - for instance with what
useflags they were compiled. This info is not in the archives, which only
contain the files.

[Fabrice Delliaux]

On Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:21:50 +0200

Post by Frank Steinmetzger
Here it stores alotta info about the binary packages - for instance
with what useflags they were compiled. This info is not in the
archives, which only contain the files.

No, informations about environment are included in tbz2 packages.
You can read man xpak for explanations.

IMHO, the /usr/portage/packages/Packages file is an index for the
package manager to avoid wasting time to open, parse and close each
tbz2 file.

[Mike Williams]

Post by Fabrice Delliaux

Post by Frank Steinmetzger
Here it stores alotta info about the binary packages - for instance
with what useflags they were compiled. This info is not in the
archives, which only contain the files.

No, informations about environment are included in tbz2 packages.
You can read man xpak for explanations.
IMHO, the /usr/portage/packages/Packages file is an index for the
package manager to avoid wasting time to open, parse and close each
tbz2 file.

And it's fetched by machines using a BINHOST, as obviously over HTTP it's not
practical to fetch the packages themselves to get the environment info.

[Neil Bothwick]

Post by Helmut Jarausch
I have the impression that when rsync'ing /usr/portage/packages from
another machine (BINSERVER),
doesn't update packages which are upto-date on BINSERVER
but not upto-date on the local machine.

Does "emaint --fix binhost" help?

[Helmut Jarausch]

Post by Neil Bothwick

Post by Helmut Jarausch
I have the impression that when rsync'ing /usr/portage/packages from
another machine (BINSERVER),
doesn't update packages which are upto-date on BINSERVER
but not upto-date on the local machine.

Does "emaint --fix binhost" help?

Many thanks, that looks great.
I'll test it next time.

Helmut.