Gentoo Linux - Server System Administrator's FAQs
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Last Updated: 2008-05-22 11:21:05


How Do I Search For A Package?
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emerge -s <package-name>


How Do I Search For A Package Quicker?
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# install the package 'eix' and run the command 'update-eix'
eix <package-name>


How Do I Install A Package?
---------------------------
emerge -av <package-name>


How Do I Backup A Package?
--------------------------
quickpkg <package-name>


How Do I Uninstall A Package?
-----------------------------
emerge --unmerge <package-name>


How Do I Unmask A Package?
--------------------------
# that depends on what type of masking it is
# for hard masking [M] then add an entry to package.unmask
echo "category/package-name" >> /etc/portage/package.unmask
# for soft masking [~] then add an entry to package.keywords
echo "category/package-name ~amd64" >> /etc/portage/package.keywords


How Do I Make Something Start On Boot?
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ll /etc/init.d/
rc-update add <script-name> default


How Do I Stop Something Starting On Boot?
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ll /etc/init.d/
rc-update del <script-name> default


How Do I Check Something Has Started On Boot?
---------------------------------------------
rc-status --all


How Do I Test Something Before I Make It Start On Boot?
-------------------------------------------------------
/etc/init.d/<script-name> start


How Do I Install A Particular Version Of A Package?
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# find out which versions are available
eix <package-name>
# install the particular version
emerge -av =category/package-name-version-number


How Do I Make Sure A System Update Does Not Break My Package Version?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
# Add entries to the system package mask configuration file
echo ">=category/package-name-version-number" >> /etc/portage/package.mask


How Do I List The Files A Package Contains?
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# make sure you have the 'gentoolkit' package installed.
equery files <package-name> |sort |less
# or the 'portage-utils' package (which is even cooler :-)
qlist <package-name>


How Do I Find Out What File Came From Which Package?
----------------------------------------------------
# use 'portage-utils' (newer and better)
qfile <filename>
# or use 'gentoolkit'
equery belongs <filename>


How Do I Find Out When I Last Updated The Package Database?
----------------------------------------------------------
# use 'portage-utils'
qlop --sync


How Long Did It Take To Compile / Install A Package?
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# use 'portage-utils'
qlop --time <package-name>


What's This Portage Utils Package You Keep On About?
----------------------------------------------------
# portage is central to gentoo and if you need to ask a question
# then use the 'portage-utils' package!
Usage: q <applet> <args>  : invoke a portage utility applet
Currently defined applets:
        q <applet> <args> : virtual applet
    qatom <pkg>           : split atom strings
   qcache <action> <args> : search the metadata cache
   qcheck <pkgname>       : verify integrity of installed packages
 qdepends <pkgname>       : show dependency info
    qfile <filename>      : list all pkgs owning files
    qglsa <action> <list> : check GLSAs against system
    qgrep <misc args>     : grep in ebuilds
    qlist <pkgname>       : list files owned by pkgname
     qlop <pkgname>       : emerge log analyzer
   qmerge <pkgnames>      : fetch and merge binary package
     qpkg <misc args>     : manipulate Gentoo binpkgs
  qsearch <regex>         : search pkgname/desc
    qsize <pkgname>       : calculate size usage
    qtbz2 <misc args>     : manipulate tbz2 packages
     quse <useflag>       : find pkgs using useflags
    qxpak <misc args>     : manipulate xpak archives


How Do I Update The System?
---------------------------
# 1. get the latest package list
emerge --sync
# 2. test the update for problems
emerge --pretend --verbose --update --deep --newuse world
# 3. if a package causes a BLOCK, back it up first then uninstall it
# 4. If it all looks OK, then go for it!
emerge --quiet --update --deep --newuse world
# 5. Now update the system configuration files
#    a. First, deal with the trivial changes
etc-update   (then -1 to quit even with some remaining)
#    b. Now deal with the rest
dispatch-conf
# 6. Reboot
reboot
# 7. On boot up, check all loads and starts ok, then
#    check reverse dependencies
revdep-rebuild


How Do I Check For Security Advisories?
---------------------------------------
glsa-check


How Do I Compile A Kernel?
--------------------------
cd /usr/src/linux/
# if you are upgrading the kernel, then run 'make oldconfig' first and answer questions to new features
make oldconfig
# if you are building the same kernel, or after a new kernel upgrade, now run the normal commands
make && make modules_install
cp -a arch/<i386 or x86_64>/boot/bzImage /boot/kernel-<version-number>-gentoo-<subrevision>
cp -a System.map /boot/System.map-<version-number>-gentoo-<subrevision>
cp -a .config /boot/config-<version-number>-gentoo-<subrevision>
# if you are upgrading the kernel then add new lines to /boot/grub/grub.conf
e.g.
title=Gentoo Linux 2.6.24
root (hd0,0)
kernel /kernel-2.6.24-gentoo root=/dev/hda3


Where can I get unofficial ebuilds?
-----------------------------------
bugs.gentoo.org


Documentation / Help
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www.gentoo.org
forums.gentoo.org
bugs.gentoo.org
gentoo-wiki.com