NAME

       pkgenpack - PackageKit Pack Generator

SYNOPSIS

       pkgenpack [--help] [--verbose] [--with-package-list] [--output] [--package] [--updates]

DESCRIPTION

       This manual page documents briefly the pkgenpack command.

       pkgenpack is the command line client for PackageKit for creating service packs.

WHAT IS A SERVICE PACK?

       A service pack is a tarball which contains a set of packages and their dependencies. The
       user can reduce the dependencies to be packed using the --with-package-list option. Along
       with the dependencies, a service pack has a file named metadata.conf which contains the
       information about the distribution and creation date of the pack.

CREATING A SERVICE PACK?

       A service pack is created using the command pkgenpack.

OPTIONS

       This program follows the usual GNU command line syntax, with long options starting with
       two dashes (`-'). A summary of options is included below.

       --help
           Show summary of options.

       --verbose
           Show extra debugging information.

       --with-package-list
           Set the filename of dependencies to be excluded.

           Generally, the file list of packages is generated when doing a PackageKit refresh on
           the target system. If not specified, pkgenpack uses
           /var/lib/PackageKit/system.package-list by default.

       --output
           The directory to put the pack file, or the current directory if omitted.

       --package
           The package to be put into the ServicePack.

       --updates
           Put all updates available in the ServicePack.

NAMING A SERVICE PACK

       The only valid extension for a service pack is ".servicepack".

EXAMPLES

       1. Tim is facing problems with his Internet connection at home. He needs a service pack
       with valgrind and it's dependencies for his system. He asks James to generate a pack for
       him. Both know James's system should contain similar packages as Tim's system, as both of
       them have installed Fedora 9 two days ago.

       James simply runs:

           [james@jamesbook:~]$ pkgenpack --output=/media/USB/TimPacks --package=valgrind

       This generates a file /media/USB/TimPacks/valgrind-fedora-9-i686.servicepack on the USB
       key Tim gave to James. Tim can now go home, insert the USB key and double clicks on the
       valgrind-fedora-9-i686.servicepack file to be prompted to install these packages.

       2. Bill wants to create a service pack named kdegames-fedora-9-i686.servicepack for his
       new system which does not have an internet connection. He generates a list of packages on
       his system using pkcon list-create and copies that list to his USB key. He then gives that
       USB to Rishi who has a good internet connectivity. Rishi runs the following command on his
       system:

           [rishi@devils-temple:~]$ pkgenpack --with-package-list=/media/USB/bill.package-list \
                                              --output=/home/rishi/Desktop --program=kdegames

       This generates a service pack, kdegames-fedora-9-i686.servicepack, on Rishi's Desktop,
       which can be distributed to Bill and users with similar requirements.

INSTALLING A SERVICE PACK

       Service Packs can be installed using pkcon. For example:

           [hacker@tim-lounge:~]$ pkcon install-local /media/USB/TimPacks/valgrind-fedora-9-i686.servicepack

SEE ALSO

       pkmon (1).  pkcon(1).

AUTHOR

       This manual page was written by Shishir Goel <crazyontheedge@gmail.com> and Richard Hughes
       <richard@hughsie.com>.

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright © 2008 Shishir Goel

[FIXME: source]                            31 July,2008                              PKGENPACK(1)