of virtual packages and services

[Ben Collins <bcollins@debian.org>]

Just a thought on the fingerd thread. What about having a general policy
for network services in that perform a function. Basically it would say
something like:

	A package which provides a network service can opt to Provide this
	service via a virtual package. The name of the virtual package
	provided is in the format "<serv>-service" where <serv> is the
	corresponding name in /etc/services that matches the standard port
	of the service that it provides. A package cannot provide a
	service unless it meets the requirements of that service. It also
	cannot provide a servce which does not exist in the Debian default
	/etc/services file. Examples:

		Package: openldapd
		Provides: ldap-service

		Package: exim
		Provides: smtp-service
	
	Note, unless a package contains a mechanism that allows it to be
	installed at the same time as other packages which provide the
	same service (either by disabling itself, or configuring itself to
	run on an alternate port) it should also Conflict with the same
	virtual package that it provides. This is also true if the
	packages contain files of the same name, and are not using
	alternatives.

This would seem to cover all current and future instances of this
reoccuring situation.

Ben

-- 
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/  Ben Collins  --  ...on that fantastic voyage...  --  Debian GNU/Linux   \
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