"configure: error: *** POSIX caps headers not found" - Solving SystemCtl Compilation Issues on CentOS
Building SystemCtl on CentOS can sometimes lead to the frustrating error: "configure: error: *** POSIX caps headers not found". This error indicates that the system's compiler cannot locate the necessary header files required for building SystemCtl. Don't worry, this is a common issue with a straightforward solution.
Understanding the Problem
SystemCtl relies on the POSIX capabilities API to manage system processes and services. This API is defined in the "capabilities.h" header file, which is usually located within the "libcap" package. This package provides functions for manipulating capabilities and is typically included in standard Linux distributions. However, the CentOS distribution may not have this package installed by default.
The Scenario
Let's assume you're attempting to build SystemCtl from source on a CentOS system. You've downloaded the source code and are running the configure script:
./configure
This is when you encounter the error:
configure: error: *** POSIX caps headers not found
This indicates that the configure script cannot find the necessary POSIX capabilities header files (capabilities.h) needed to compile SystemCtl properly.
The Solution
The solution is simple: install the "libcap-devel" package on your CentOS system. This package provides the necessary development headers, including capabilities.h, which are required for compiling SystemCtl.
sudo yum install libcap-devel
After installing the package, run the configure script again:
./configure
This time, the configure script should successfully locate the required headers, and the compilation process should proceed without errors.
Additional Insights
- Why "libcap-devel" and not just "libcap"? The
libcappackage provides the runtime libraries for POSIX capabilities, whilelibcap-develprovides the header files required during compilation. - Checking for
capabilities.h: You can check if thecapabilities.hfile is present by navigating to the/usr/include/directory and looking for the file. If it exists, then thelibcap-develpackage is installed. - Alternatives to Yum: If you're using a different package manager (e.g., DNF), the command to install
libcap-develmay vary. Refer to your package manager's documentation.
Conclusion
The "configure: error: *** POSIX caps headers not found" error during SystemCtl compilation is a common issue that arises due to the missing libcap-devel package. By installing this package, you'll provide the necessary headers for a successful SystemCtl build.
