Re: How does rpm command compare 2 rpm files' version?

On Wed, 28 Dec 2005 13:09:38 +0100, Markku Kolkka <markku.kolkka@xxxxxx> wrote:

Klein wrote:

If 2 rpms have the following information:

a.rpm (old one)
Package name: ABC
Version: 1.00.pre1

a.rpm (new one)
Package name ABC
Version: 1.00.beta1

If I have installed the new one, and want to use rpm command to
upgrade it with the old one, what is the result?


Because the "old" package has a version that's later in sort order than
the "new" package, RPM believes the package version 1.00.pre1 is an
update and installs it without complaints.

You should version the packages e.g. like this:

a.rpm (old one)
Package name: ABC
Version: 1.00
Release: 0.1.pre1

a.rpm (new one)
Package name ABC
Version: 1.00
Release: 0.2.beta1

Now the version/release is in correct ascending order. Older versions of
the package can be installed with the "--oldpackage" switch of the rpm
command.


Just for the record, when comparing two versions strings or two realease
strings, rpm breaks up the strings into alternating non-numeric and
numeric sequences, and compare the non-numeric sequences as strings
(unsigned bytes, iirc) and the nummeric parts as numbers (so 1 < 2 < 10).
My memory fails me at this point: I believe, but cannot remember if it is
so, that it first breaks the strings at the dots, and then each part in
alternating non-numeric and numeric parts.  I don't remember what it does
with e.g 1.a and 1.1.  It is possible that it assumes an empty non-
numeric sequence after the dot in the latter string.

Also be aware that a complete version-release string also comprises an
"epoch" that defaults to zero, and is prepended: 0:1.1-1.pre is
epoch 0, version 1.1 release 1.pre.  The epoch is used when external
factors force versions strings that are out of order.

-Enrique
.

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