[OPEN-ILS-DEV] Debian version/GCC version

Sun Feb 18 18:31:55 EST 2007

On 2/18/07, Don McMorris <don.mcmorris at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Grace:
> Sorry for not being available when you IM'd.
>
> On 2/18/07, Grace Liu <gyliu86 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks, Bill. So, you are using Gentoo, not using Debian Sarge or Etch. I
> > just want to keep the same environment with yours so that I can set up the
> > system and maybe do some development on it.
> >
> > But I am confused as in the documentation wiki on openils.org. It mentioned
> > "Install has been tested on Debian Testing and Unstable. Stable was missing
> > a few packages that were needed. It can probably be done but there will be
> > some extra software to install manually."
> > (http://open-ils.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=installing_prerequisites_on_debian)
> > and "This is a work in progress, I don't actually have Open-ILS running on
> > Gentoo yet"
> > (http://open-ils.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=installing_prerequisites_on_gentoo)
>
> Apologies for the confusion Grace.  PINES uses (and develops against)
> Gentoo.  The Debian build was attempted (I forget by whom though), and
> the Wiki information is just copy-and-paste of what he did.

PINES production servers are Debian (Etch, I believe).
/etc/debian_version says testing/unstable.  They have a custom kernel
and use GCC 4.1.2 (Bill's message up-thread).

I think some of Bill's dev servers are Debian now, but I still develop
exclusively on a Gentoo box.  The GCC on my dev box is slightly
different than Bill's Gentoo GCC (gcc --version says "gcc (GCC) 3.4.4
(Gentoo 3.4.4-r1, ssp-3.4.4-1.0, pie-8.7.8)") but we haven't
experienced any GCC related failures, as far as I know.

>
> >
> > Then, I need more information on the environment:
> > 1) Linux version (Gentoo? Debian?, linux kernel 2.6.16? /2.6.19?)
> > 2) Apache2 version
> > 3) PostgreSQL version
> I believe success has been greatest in Gentoo w/a 2.6.x kernel.
> Apache 2.0.x was used for a while, but Bill did say in a fairly recent
> e-mail to the list saying they're starting to utilize some of the 2.2
> features (he'll write back to clarify what's best I'm sure).

I don't see any reason that any particular kernel or distro will be
"better" -- the only difference of substance (as far as Evergreen
proper is concerned) will be the ease of fulfilling the dependencies.
I prefer Gentoo's emerge, but apt works well too and I'm sure that
RedHat/Fedora can be made to work.  Another list member is making
headway on a Solaris installation, too.  The best advice in my opinion
is "use what you know".

> >
> > I want to install all apache2 and postgreSQL using package/binary (much
> > easier and faster) according to the documentation wiki on openils.org, . Any
> > problem or concern with this method?
> Most of the work has been done from source, but binaries should be
> doable.  I don't anticipate any problems with Postgres as Binary, but
> Miker can verify this (I think he's the DB guru...).

Distribution built Postgres packages will work fine (with one
caveat*), and the most recent release of the 8.1 series (8.1.8 is the
latest available directly from http://postgresql.org at the moment) is
the best choice.  I am beginning to look at the 8.2 series -- there
are some exciting indexing options in 8.2 -- but it is mostly
untested.  I expect it would work fine, but we I haven't tested
thoroughly yet.

* [I build my own PG due to some limitations in indexed text field
size -- not full-text indexing, but exact field BTree indexing used
for sorting purposes.  I change the BLCKSZ #define to 32k (up from the
default of 8k), which can be done by editing
src/include/pg_config_manual.h in the Postgres source tarball before
building. This allows text fields of up to (about) 10k to be indexed
directly, which is approximately the max size of an entire MARC
record. I'll be looking at changing the way sorting is used, which
will remove the need for this safeguard.]

> As far as Apache, you should be able to load modules like you've
> attempted, but I think it's preferred to have the stuff compiled in.
> Bill should comment.
> >
> > Also, if possible, could send me following files your are using now(I just
> > want to config the system correctly and easily):
> > 1) evergreen_vhost.conf
> > 2) evergreen_vhost_ssl.conf
> > 3) opensrf_core.xml
> > 4) openils.xml
> > 5) opensrf.xml
> Bill said something about putting these in CVS.  Not sure if it's done yet...
> >
> > By the way, in your CVS repository
> > (http://open-ils.org/cgi-bin/viewcvs.cgi/), there is a tar
> > file. Every time, you commit to the CVS, do you also make a tar file using
> > the new committed files?
> If we're thinking of the same one, I think the viewcvs script
> generates this tar on-the-fly when you request it.  Because the public
> CVS is updated hourly from the internal one, it is technically
> possible for a tar you download to be different than that somebody
> else downloads an hour later.

Exactly right.  For stable release tarballs, just download the latest
from the Releases section of http://open-ils.org/cvs.html .

> >
> > Too many questions, but I really need your help.
> No problem at all Grace! We look forward to working with you and being
> able to help each-other out.  If you have IRC capability, consider
> checking into #GAPINES on the freenode network (it's not terribly
> active, but replies may be slightly quicker).
>
> --Don
>
> >
> > Best,
> > Grace
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >  ________________________________
> >  Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2007 11:18:11 -0500
> > From: billserickson at gmail.com
> > To: open-ils-dev at list.georgialibraries.org
> > Subject: Re: [OPEN-ILS-DEV] Debian version/GCC version
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On 2/18/07, Grace Liu <gyliu86 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Hi
> >
> > What is the debian version/kernel version and GCC version you are using now
> > and what is the latest debian version/kernel version and GCC version the
> > openils was tested that works?
> >
> >
> > Mostly Linux kernel = 2.6.16
> > We're currently testing 2.6.19
> >
> > ---------------
> >
> > GCC = gcc version 4.1.2 20060613 (prerelease) (Debian 4.1.1-5)
> >
> > We're testing gcc version 4.1.2 20061028 (prerelease) (Debian 4.1.1-19)
> >
> > Also, for what it's worth, our Gentoo test boxes use gcc version 3.4.3
> > 20041125 (Gentoo 3.4.3-r1, ssp-3.4.3-0, pie-8.7.7),
> >
> > Note that GCC 4 prints a lot of warnings when you compile (X and Y differ in
> > signedness...).  You can ignore those.
> >
> > -bill
> >
> >
> > --
> > Bill Erickson
> > PINES Systems Developer
> > Georgia Public Library Service
> > billserickson at gmail.com
> > http://open-ils.org
> > ________________________________
> > Stay up-to-date with your friends through the Windows Live™ Spaces friends
> > list. Check it out!
>

-- 
Mike Rylander
mrylander at gmail.com
GPLS -- PINES Development
Database Developer
http://open-ils.org