Beyond Linux From Scratch - Version 6.1

Chapter 8. General Libraries

FAM-2.7.0

Introduction to FAM

The FAM package contains a File Alteration Monitor which is useful for notifying applications of changes to the file system.

Package Information

Additional Downloads

FAM Dependencies

Required

portmap-5beta

Installation of FAM

Install FAM by running the following commands: 

patch -Np1 -i ../fam-2.7.0-dnotify-1.patch &&
chmod -v 755 configure &&
autoreconf -f -i &&
./configure --prefix=/usr --sysconfdir=/etc &&
make

Now, as the root user: 

make install

Command Explanations

patch -Np1 -i ../fam-2.7.0-dnotify-1.patch: This patch enables FAM to use the Linux kernel dnotify mechanism to inform the calling process of file modifications, rather than polling the file system for modifications.

chmod -v 755 configure: configure is set to read-only and autoreconf will fail if the permissions aren't changed.

autoreconf -f -i: The autotools need rebuilding because the dnotify patch affects configure.ac and Makefile.am.

Configuring FAM

Config Files

/etc/rpc, /etc/fam.conf, /etc/inetd.conf or /etc/xinetd.conf or /etc/xinetd.d/fam

Configuration Information

Configuring the File Alteration Monitor. Perform the following instructions as the root user.

If you use inetd, add the FAM entry to /etc/inetd.conf with the following command: 

echo "sgi_fam/1-2 stream  rpc/tcp wait root /usr/sbin/famd fam" \
    >> /etc/inetd.conf

If you use xinetd, the following command will create the FAM file as /etc/xinetd.d/sgi_fam (be sure the nogroup group exists): 

cat >> /etc/xinetd.d/sgi_fam << "EOF"
# Begin /etc/xinetd.d/sgi_fam

# description: FAM - file alteration monitor
    service sgi_fam
    {
        type            = RPC UNLISTED
        socket_type     = stream
        user            = root
        group           = nogroup
        server          = /usr/sbin/famd
        wait            = yes
        protocol        = tcp
        rpc_version     = 2
        rpc_number      = 391002
    }

# End /etc/xinetd.d/sgi_fam
EOF

If you do not have an inetd daemon installed and have no wish to install one, you can also start famd during system startup by installing the /etc/rc.d/init.d/fam init script included in the blfs-bootscripts-6.1 package. 

make install-fam

Contents

Installed Program: famd
Installed Library: libfam.[so,a]
Installed Directories: None

Short Descriptions

famd

is the file alteration monitor daemon.

libfam.[so,a]

contains functions that support the file allocation monitor.

Last updated on 2005-08-01 13:29:19 -0600