Chapter 2 - Managing Software Flashcards
Identify critical features of RPM and Debian package Formats.
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RPM and Debian packages store all the files for a given package in a single file that also includes information about what other packages the software depends on. These systems maintain a database of installed packages and their associated files and dependencies.
Describe the tools used for managing Debian packages.
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The dgkg program installs or uninstalls a single package or a group of packages that you specify. The apt-get utility retrieves program from installation media or from the Internet for installation and it can automatically upgrade your entire system. The dselect program serves as a menu-driven interface to apt-get, enabling you to select programs that you want to install from a text-mode menus.
Describe the tools used for managing RPMs.
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The rpm program is the main tool for installation, upgrading and uninstalling RPMs. This program accepts operations and options that tell it precisely what to do. The Yum utility and particularly its yum command enables installation of a package and all its dependencies via the Internet rather than from local package files.
Summarize tools for extracting files and convert between package formats.
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The rpm2cpio program can covert an RPM file to a cpoi archive, enable user of non-RPM systems to access files in an RPM. The alien utility can convert in any direction between Debian packages, RPMs, Stampede packages and tarballs. This enables the use of packages intended for one system on another.
Summarize the reasons for using shared libraries.
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Shared libraries keep disk space and memory requirements manageable by placing code that’s needed by many programs in separate files from the programs that use it, enabling one copy to be used basic “building blocks” that others have written without having to reinvent code constantly.
Describe methods available to change the library path.
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The library path can be changed system wide by editing the /etc/ld.so.conf file and then ldconfig. For temporary or per-user changes, directories may be added to the path by placing them in the LD_LIBRARY_PATH environment variable.
Explain the difference between foreground and background processes.
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Foreground process have control of the current terminal or text-mode windows (such as an xterm). Background processes don’t have exclusive control of a terminal or text-mode window but are still running.
Describe how to limit the CPU time used by a process.
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You can launch a program with nice or use renice to alter its priority in obtaining CPU time. If a process is truly out of control, you can terminate it with the kill command.
