superkaramba

[dave52355]

OK, I've decided I'm like really stupid cause I just can't get it! I trashed out my hd install of Knoppix trying to install superkaramba. (Its become a mission now) Keep getting dependancy errors need lib1 you have lib2 type stuff, and lib2 is newer than lib 1 go figure. I have apt-get update and apt-get upgrade to the point my hard drive is ready to smoke. Is there any easy way to do this that a dumb noobe as myself could do. Or is this one of those unreachable things?

Thanks

[Stephen]

OK, I've decided I'm like really stupid cause I just can't get it! I trashed out my hd install of Knoppix trying to install superkaramba. (Its become a mission now) Keep getting dependancy errors need lib1 you have lib2 type stuff, and lib2 is newer than lib 1 go figure. I have apt-get update and apt-get upgrade to the point my hard drive is ready to smoke. Is there any easy way to do this that a dumb noobe as myself could do. Or is this one of those unreachable things?

Thanks

While there are some applications that are uninstallable when in the situation you are it is ususlly best to restrict your sources.list by commenting out the other options apt has for the packages. I see that superkaramba is in unstable so comment out your stable and testing sources then update and then try to install leaving apt no choice as to where it gets the packages from. If apt tells you it needs version 1.2.3 of a program from testing to accomplish the install then uncomment the testing sources update and apt-get install program=1.2.3 then comment out again update try to install repeat as many times as necessary to get the program to install.

[rickenbacherus]

Well- since it sounds as though you'll be reinstalling then I'm going to suggest that you NOT do apt-get upgrade. So many people do that then hose their system up and can't fix it. It just isn't necessary. I'm not even sure why everyone seems to think it is. Testing and Unstable are named as they are for a reason. I would only suggest upgrading packages if there is something that a more stable version cannot provide. With that said..

Use Synaptic. (Kpackage is OK too) It will show you all the dependencies required, what it's going to remove and what's going to be installed. It works flawlessly for me. I just installed Superkaramba and the only change made to my system was removing Karamba. I'd also suggest not trying to install 100 packages at a time- take your time, get familiar w/ apt-get and what it can and cannot do. If you installed 1 or 2 packages and your system gets hosed it's alot easier to figure out what caused the problem. COnversely, if you installed 150 .debs and your system gets borked what tehn? Those dependency problems can be annoying but they can also be fixed if you learn the intricacies of apt.

[dave52355]

Isn't there a apt-get fix type command. I've seen these dependancy issues before and a couple times I typed something but can't remember and the dependancies were repaired and the programs installed. I just can't remember?

[rickenbacherus]

Isn't there a apt-get fix type command. I've seen these dependancy issues before and a couple times I typed something but can't remember and the dependancies were repaired and the programs installed. I just can't remember?

Perchance do you mean apt-get -f install ?

[dave52355]

No tried that, think it was dpkg --repair or something. Don't know I think I need to reinstall anyways to many little errors popping up like LISa not loading at boot. Just got that feeling if you know what I mean.

Thanks

[CivilEng]

The "apt-get fix command" you're remembering is "apt-get -f install" which actually tries to repair failed installs and correct the dependency issues apt-get did not manage to get right. Also, if a package is giving you a hard time, and has become half-installed thus placing your system squarely into dependency hell; try removing the package. Generally apt-get remove XXXXXX works even if the package is only half installed.

I have to echo the concerns expressed by rickenbacherus above. Simply changing a whole bunch of your sources and the apt-getting upgrades in a manner I can only think to describe as "Willy-Nilly" is just plain stupid. Worse, it's incompetent on any debian release which is not sourced purely from stable. If you have to have some new package, download the tar or tgz file, follow the installation instructions and keep yourself from going mad. If you need some packages, the documentation is sure to tell you. With any luck, you'll get through with as little a learning curve as needed. Also, again along rickenbacherus lines, learn apt-get, because it is superior to my last suggestion, but used incorrectly will make your linux machine more of a nightmare than M$ machines. Except for the crashing, of course.
Hopefully.

Good Luck,

Civ

[dave52355]

The source.list supplied with Knoppix remains unchanged. There was no "blind" changing. I ran apt-get update as instructed, than apt-get upgrade. Both of these went without a hitch. Than I ran apt-get install superkaramba This is where the problems begun. I will reinstall from cd and forget about superkaramba.

Thanks

[CivilEng]

Good to hear. Out of curiosity, have you tried apt-get remove superkaramba???

Keep us up to date,

Civ

[dave52355]

I did apt-get remove superkaramba No package found. 1/2 way through the reinstall. We'll try again with no updates or upgrades.

Thanks

[Stephen]

Than I ran apt-get install superkaramba This is where the problems begun.

Thanks

Try apt-get -s install superkaramba/unstable to tell it where to get the package from this usually works otherwise it will try to install a lesser version.


Remove the -s to install if everything looks good.

[dave52355]

OK, Reinstalled Knoppix to HD. DL superkaramba from Debian web site. Ran in kpackage. Said it needed a new lib. DL Lib ran in Kpackage it to needed something. After a lot of back and forward activity I finally got superkaramba to install!

Which brings me to another question: If kpackager and apt-get are smart enough to see the required packages, why don't they just go out and get them?

On another note. The last 2 installs LISa has not been set to boot at startup. I have used rcconf to turn it on at boot. I can ping the other systems on my network (XP Pro and Lindows 4.0) but I cannot access them. Any ideas?

Thanks

[aay]

Which brings me to another question: If kpackager and apt-get are smart enough to see the required packages, why don't they just go out and get them?

apt-get will do this, but since Knoppix is a mixed system (stable, testing, unstable) some extra work is required.

What Stepen advised you above will often work.


apt-get -install superkaramba/unstable

The /unstable option tells knoppix to grab your desired program from unstable, but ONLY the package that you specify to be obtained from unstable will be taken from unstable. Dependencies will resolve to their defaults. This is where you may end up with dependency problems.

The way to get around this is as follows:


apt-get -t unstable install superkaramba

This not only grabs the program you want to install from unstable (in this case superkaramba) but it also grabs ALL DEPENDENCIES from unstable. This often works much better. It has almost always solved my problems. Best of all it tends not to remove and break other packages. This is a real problem to people who are new to debian. I've seen a lot of people who have tried to upgrade or install cetain packages and have ended up completely borking kde. I've done this myself in fact....but never with the "-t unstable" option.

Good luck.

Adam

[dave52355]

Thank you. One question:

Would apt-get -t install (program name) work for dependancy issues on stable platforms?

Thanks