Converting i386-RPM to amd64-DEB with Alien???

Posted by gna on Thu 30 Jun 2005 at 07:48

I am trying to install some management software on our servers, but it can only be downloaded in an i386 RPM binary format, and our system is a Xeon based server (both are product of the same company), running an amd64 Debian. I tried to convert the rpm to deb with alien, but it tells me my architecture is unsupported by the rpm package.

If I'm right, I do can run i386 arch programs on my amd64 arch, because of the backward compatibility, but how do I convert that rpm file to a Debian package?

I know i could do just install the rpm package, because the rpm command has a switch to ignore the arch restrictions, but i would like to do it the dpkg way.

Any ideas?

This article can be found online at the Debian Administration website at the following bookmarkable URL (along with associated comments):

• http://www.debian-administration.org/article/Converting_i386-RPM_to_amd64-DEB_with_Alien

This article is copyright 2005 gna - please ask for permission to republish or translate.