-----Original Message----- From: rpm-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpm-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Aaron Hanson Sent: Friday, June 24, 2005 11:00 AM To: RPM Package Manager Subject: RE: Comparing RPM files Hi Avram - I would suspect some other error in your process; if the md5sums for the files are different, then the files are different. But to investigate this further, I would suggest you use 'rpm2cpio'. Example: cat <my-rpm-file> | rpm2cpio | cpio -iudv This will allow you to quickly extract the files from an rpm, after which you can use 'diff' or whatever on the specific files you need to compare. Check the man pages for more options. -Aaron > -----Original Message----- > From: rpm-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:rpm-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Aumick Avram > Sent: Friday, June 24, 2005 5:36 AM > To: rpm-list@xxxxxxxxxx > Subject: Comparing RPM files > > Hi, > > I been assigned the task at work to compare the files in two different > rpm files. Example, abc-7.08-001.i386.rpm with abc-7.08-002.i386.rpm. > By using the command "rpm -qlp --dump" > I get the contents of each file contained in the rpm with its md5sums. > By comparing the md5sums of each matching filename, I can determine if > the files changed or are the same from one release to the next. > Everything is fine until I compare the md5sums of ".a" library files. > At that point, even if we know that they did not change, the sums are > different. The rpm's were built using the same library file that was > built with the ver. 000. The library files were only Included in with > the rpm and not a newly rebuilt file. Note that the library file is > not only Different form ver 1 and 2 but also from the original. > > Question: > 1. What is causing the rpm to change from the original to each > version? > 2. How could we compare the library files from each rpm to determine > if they changed since > the md5sums are different? > > Thanks for you help. > > Avram Hi Aaron, I did what you suggested. What I found was at the time of a particular .a file with the same name for each rpm, the header of the file was different. On the original ver 0, I found the followinging: !<arch> / 1058431359 0 0 0 10912 ` On the next ver I found the following: / 1100207510 0 0 0 10912 ` The other versions were similar except, for what I have determined, is the epoch date field. Since as far as I know the library was not recompiled and linked in since none of its library routines changed, the rpm should have only added the library as is without changing the date field. Since I am not the one who packaged the rpm, I am not sure of the process. I was just told that the library file was added in as is without any change. Any other thoughts? Avram
