Geoffrey Lee wrote:
>>>
>>>try rpm -qi kernel-2.4.18.21mdk
>>
>>Yes, I know, but I don't know why it doesn't provide "kernel". It would be
>>solved with a "Provides: kernel" in the spec file. Is there a clever reason
>>that it don't provide "kernel" that I'm unaware of?
>>
>
> $ cat kernel-2.4.spec | grep kprovides
> %define kprovides kernel = %{realversion}, alsa
> Provides: module-info, %kprovides
> Provides: %kprovides
> Provides: %kprovides
> Provides: %kprovides
> $
>
>
> It's just that -qi <stuff> only works for a real package name.
So the next question would be why is kernel the real package name.
I am not aware of the historical reason but i may try a guess...
When you install a new kernel, you don't want to delete the previous
one... just in case you were not able to boot the new one, it's better
to keep the previous configuration working.
So, in the rpm framework, you do not want to upgrade the kernel.
It would work that way if the name were something like "kernel".
With a name like kernel-2.4.*, kernel rpm are considered as distinct
and there's no problem anymore.
Regards.
