We have 22 servers where 3 of them have gzip 1.2.4 installed on our AIX 4.2 .

If I want to copy that gzip unto all the other servers, is it simply a matter of compying the /usr/local/bin/gzip or do I also have to copy other files (librairies, ...) ?

I sent an email to the gzip support group about 2 weeks ago. I haven't received any emails yet.

Why not just install it? The gzip package does come with more than just gzip itself, though most appear to be gunzip support for common utils like less, more, grep

It has been installed a long time ago and I do not think the people here know where the package is (on the server or on a cd, floppy, ...). In other words, I assume I will not be able to find the package anywhere.

My AIX 4.3 system shows it as being in the: freeware.gnu.gzip.rte package:

# lslpp -w /usr/local/bin/gzip
File Fileset Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
/usr/local/bin/gzip
freeware.gnu.gzip.rte File

The list of files should give you an idea of what needs to be copied:

# lslpp -f freeware.gnu.gzip.rte
Fileset File
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Path: /usr/lib/objrepos
freeware.gnu.gzip.rte 1.2.4.1
/usr/local/lib/gzip-1.2.4/README
/usr/local/bin/zdiff
/usr/local/info/gzip.info
/usr/local/man/man1/zdiff.1
/usr/local/lib/gzip-1.2.4/algorithm.doc
/usr/local/lib/gzip-1.2.4/TODO
/usr/local/bin/zforce
/usr/local/lib/gzip-1.2.4/sample/makecrc.c
/usr/local/man/man1/zcmp.1 -> /usr/local/man/man1/zdiff.1
/usr/local/lib/gzip-1.2.4/sample
/usr/local/man/man1/gunzip.1 -> /usr/local/man/man1/gzip.1
/usr/local/lib/gzip-1.2.4/COPYING
/usr/local/lib/gzip-1.2.4/THANKS
/usr/local
/usr/local/bin/zcat -> /usr/local/bin/gzip
/usr/local/lib
/usr/local/lib/gzip-1.2.4/sample/ztouch
/usr/local/man/man1
/usr/local/lib/gzip-1.2.4/INSTALL
/usr/local/bin/gunzip -> /usr/local/bin/gzip
/usr/local/man/man1/zforce.1
/usr/local/lib/gzip-1.2.4/sample/sub.c
/usr/local/man/man1/zgrep.1
/usr/local/lib/gzip-1.2.4
/usr/local/bin/gzip
/usr/local/bin/zcmp -> /usr/local/bin/zdiff
/usr/local/bin/znew
/usr/local/man/man1/znew.1
/usr/local/lib/gzip-1.2.4/sample/add.c
/usr/local/man/man1/zmore.1
/usr/local/bin/zmore
/usr/local/lib/gzip-1.2.4/NEWS
/usr/local/man/man1/gzexe.1
/usr/local/bin
/usr/local/man
/usr/local/bin/gzexe
/usr/local/lib/gzip-1.2.4/sample/zread.c
/usr/local/bin/zgrep
/usr/local/info
/usr/local/man/man1/gzip.1
/usr/local/lib/gzip-1.2.4/sample/zfile
/usr/local/man/man1/zcat.1 -> /usr/local/man/man1/gzip.1


If that isn't enough, perhaps the IBM gzip RPM (for AIX 5.2) might run:
IBM AIX Toolbox download information

Doing a google search using: aix gzip 1.2.4 "index of"
provides many links, particularly the first result

just copy /usr/local/bin/gzip

It has been argued above (and with very convincing reasons so) that this is not the best/recommended way to do it.

I am always glad to see someone joining our forum and willing to do some AIX support, but: please do only give advice where you are positively sure to "know better" than what has already beeen stated. A low post counter will not hurt your credibility at all while giving advice where you aren't able to add to the knowledge base will do damage to your reputation here.

Thanks for your consideration.

---------- Post updated at 06:55 PM ---------- Previous update was at 06:47 PM ----------

Install the complete package at any rate! The reason (if nothing else) is: you will see the installed package in all the package management tools which are usually used to do version management and software management at the OS level. An admin who wants to know if gzip is installed will usually issue "lslpp -l | grep -i gzip" or something such and not starting to search for some obscure executable of dubious origin.

A second reason is that you can remove an installed package as a whole from the system whereas it is nearly impossible to "roll back" the system to a state before installation if you only copy files around. This might work for one executable or a second one, but as you install more and more files onto more and more systems your are guaranteed to lose an accurate picture of what is installed where and you will soon end up with systems which cannot be rebuilt to a specific point because nobody knows what is going on on them.

I hope this helps.

bakunin