Gentoo Forums
Gentoo Forums
Gentoo Forums
Quick Search: in
Is it safe to set -xattr for portage?
View unanswered posts
View posts from last 24 hours

 
Reply to topic    Gentoo Forums Forum Index Gentoo on AMD64
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
qpl
n00b
n00b


Joined: 04 Feb 2018
Posts: 1

PostPosted: Sun Feb 04, 2018 6:12 am    Post subject: Is it safe to set -xattr for portage? Reply with quote

Hi,

I set gentoo up to work on windows subsystem for linux (WSL) and so far so good except for slow emerge speed.
The system is basically amd64 without multilib.

As tmpfs is currently simulated on hard drive (C:\), I am trying to move portage temp folder to ramdisk (set in windows as a separate drive). However, the installation raises error with message

Code:
install-xattr: listxattr() failed: Operation not supported


This issue seems due to incomplete support of extended attributes on ntfs/wsl. To test I set FEATURE="-xattr" and the installation works. Is it safe to globally set FEATURE="-xattr" or disable xattr use flag for portage?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
krinn
Watchman
Watchman


Joined: 02 May 2003
Posts: 7470

PostPosted: Sun Feb 04, 2018 1:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

your answer is useflags.
devs don't do a useflag in a package which you must have it, if it must use xattr, it won't have the xattr useflag, but xattr dependency.

so you can set -xattr and :
* if a package need xattr dep, it will install it and use it.
* if a package need it but as an option, but the option is force because of another package or whatever, portage will complain for that package with a package[xattr] kind of output.

as you see, it's safe, portage will warn you if someone do really need the useflag and you have set -xattr globally.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
mv
Watchman
Watchman


Joined: 20 Apr 2005
Posts: 6780

PostPosted: Sun Feb 04, 2018 6:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The main reason for FEATURES=xattr was that certain files needed to be marked as exceptions for a pax kernel.
Now since pax/grsecurity is practically dead for normal users, this feature is probably not needed anymore.
I am not aware of any packages which really sets xattr values except for marking pax exceptions.
So the short answer to your question is very likely: Yes, it is safe to use FEATURES=-xattr. (Of course, I will not give a guarantee of any sort...)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
szatox
Advocate
Advocate


Joined: 27 Aug 2013
Posts: 3404

PostPosted: Sun Feb 04, 2018 6:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

FEATURE=-xattr is a must-have on a filesystem that does not support xattr. Some packages fail to build otherwise.
It seems to be safe. My tests weren't very extensive, but I didn't encounter any issues with it.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Gentoo Forums Forum Index Gentoo on AMD64 All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum