User:Maffblaster/Drafts/util-linux

Resources

Util-linux is a set of various useful Linux utilities.

Installation

USE flags

USE flags for sys-apps/util-linux Various useful Linux utilities

`+cramfs`	build mkfs/fsck helpers for cramfs filesystems
`+hardlink`	build hardlink program
`+logger`	build the logger program
`+readline`	Enable support for libreadline, a GNU line-editing library that almost everyone wants
`+su`	build the su program
`+suid`	Install some programs with suid bit set to provide additional functionality. mount/umount: non-root users may mount/umount devices wall/write: non-root users can notify other users su: non-root users may become root
`audit`	Use sys-process/audit to emit audit messages about system changes
`build`	!!internal use only!! DO NOT SET THIS FLAG YOURSELF!, used for creating build images and the first half of bootstrapping [make stage1]
`caps`	build setpriv helper (run programs with diff capabilities)
`cryptsetup`	Use sys-fs/cryptsetup to have built-in dm-verity in libmount
`fdformat`	build fdformat (floppy disk format)
`kill`	build the kill program
`magic`	Add support for file type detection via magic bytes (usually via libmagic from sys-apps/file)
`ncurses`	Add ncurses support (console display library)
`nls`	Add Native Language Support (using gettext - GNU locale utilities)
`pam`	build runuser helper
`python`	Add optional support/bindings for the Python language
`rtas`	Add support for the Run Time Abstraction Services (RTAS)
`selinux`	!!internal use only!! Security Enhanced Linux support, this must be set by the selinux profile or breakage will occur
`slang`	Add support for the slang text display library (it's like ncurses, but different)
`static-libs`	Build static versions of dynamic libraries as well
`systemd`	Enable use of systemd-specific libraries and features like socket activation or session tracking
`test`	Enable dependencies and/or preparations necessary to run tests (usually controlled by FEATURES=test but can be toggled independently)
`tty-helpers`	install the mesg/wall/write tools for talking to local users
`udev`	Enable virtual/udev integration (device discovery, power and storage device support, etc)
`unicode`	Add support for Unicode
`uuidd`	build uuidd daemon
`verify-sig`	Verify upstream signatures on distfiles

Data provided by the Gentoo Package Database · Last update: 2025-03-09 06:54 More information about USE flags

kill

Enabling the kill USE flag will typically creates a conflict between the sys-process/procps and sys-apps/util-linux packages. Both packages include the kill command, and both packages are capable of conditionally building the kill utility by setting the kill USE flag (in fact, sys-apps/coreutils also includes support for a kill command).

Gentoo toolchain developers have decided the sys-process/procps package will be the default provider of the kill utility for the @system set.

tty-helpers

The mesg, wall, and write utilities are installed using the tty-helpers USE flag. This can be viewed by scrolling down in USE flags section above.

For security reasons, these utilities are disabled by default.

Emerge

root #emerge --ask --oneshot sys-apps/util-linux

Note
--oneshot is used in the above command because util-linux is included in the @system set. It is typically not necessary to include it in a @selected set.

Usage

There are many utilities included in with the util-linux package...

Troubleshooting

(Troubleshoot issues in this section. Separate issues by best describing the error with a new section name. Remove if no issues are known.)

Issue 1

Removal

Unmerge

Warning: This package is part of the @system set. Removing it will remove an important suite of packages. Proceed at your own risk!

root #emerge --ask --depclean sys-apps/util-linux

External resources

References