Difference between kernel26-headers and linux-api-headers?

chemicalfan · 2011-07-01 10:52:37

What's the difference between kernel26-headers and linux-api-headers? From what I can gather, linux-api-headers have been "sanitised for use in userspace", but that means nothing to me! You need them for compiling glibc, but that's about it, it seems. I use a custom kernel with custom kernel headers, so the kernel26-headers package doesn't apply to me (as I understand). If both are kernel headers, what's the difference, and are they compatible?

This started as I tried to compile the latest glibc, and it said I needed "linux-api-headers=>2.6.29". I was confused, as I know my custom kernel has supplied headers at version 2.6.39.2, so do I need both header packages??

Allan · 2011-07-01 11:06:47

In short, I think you have basically covered what the difference is.

linux-api-headers is for the toolchain (gcc, glibc, etc) so is needed for all systems
kernel26-headers is for building kernel modules, so is needed if you want to build kernel modules

Note that they do not have to match versions at all because they do not interact with each other.

Mr.Elendig · 2011-07-01 11:07:00

linux-api-headers is for userspace/runtime stuff while kernel26-headers are the headers used when building modules.

Also linux-api-headers usually follows the same kernel version as glibc was built against, not the latest kernel version in the repo.

Edit: Old post from before the kernel-headers -> linux-api-headers rename, but still valid:
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=49105

Last edited by Mr.Elendig (2011-07-01 11:08:33)

chemicalfan · 2011-07-01 12:58:12

Right, so I shouldn't panic about linux-api-headers being in conflict with my kernel headers, and just treat it as "just any dependency"?

lukaszan · 2011-07-01 13:31:37

chemicalfan wrote:

Right, so I shouldn't panic about linux-api-headers being in conflict with my kernel headers, and just treat it as "just any dependency"?

They won't be in conflict. Despite name similarity they are separate packages.

chemicalfan · 2011-07-01 13:51:41

Cool, thanks very much

Arch Linux

#1 2011-07-01 10:52:37

Difference between kernel26-headers and linux-api-headers?

#2 2011-07-01 11:06:47

Re: Difference between kernel26-headers and linux-api-headers?

#3 2011-07-01 11:07:00

Re: Difference between kernel26-headers and linux-api-headers?

#4 2011-07-01 12:58:12

Re: Difference between kernel26-headers and linux-api-headers?

#5 2011-07-01 13:31:37

Re: Difference between kernel26-headers and linux-api-headers?

#6 2011-07-01 13:51:41

Re: Difference between kernel26-headers and linux-api-headers?

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