Beyond Linux® From Scratch (System V Edition) - Version 12.3

Chapter 16. Networking Utilities

Avahi-0.8

Introduction to Avahi

The Avahi package is a system which facilitates service discovery on a local network.

This package is known to build and work properly using an LFS 12.3 platform.

Package Information

Additional Downloads

Avahi Dependencies

Required

GLib-2.82.5 (GObject Introspection recommended)

Recommended

GTK-3.24.48 and libdaemon-0.14

Optional

D-Bus Python-1.3.2, libevent-2.1.12, Doxygen-1.13.2, GTK+-2 (deprecated), and xmltoman (for generating documentation)

Installation of Avahi

There should be a dedicated user and group to take control of the avahi-daemon daemon after it is started. Issue the following commands as the root user: 

groupadd -fg 84 avahi &&
useradd -c "Avahi Daemon Owner" -d /run/avahi-daemon -u 84 \
        -g avahi -s /bin/false avahi

There should also be a dedicated privileged access group for Avahi clients. Issue the following command as the root user: 

groupadd -fg 86 netdev

Fix a regression that results in a race condition when IPv6 is in use and multiple network adapters are present on the system: 

patch -Np1 -i ../avahi-0.8-ipv6_race_condition_fix-1.patch

Fix a security vulnerability in avahi-daemon: 

sed -i '426a if (events & AVAHI_WATCH_HUP) { \
client_free(c); \
return; \
}' avahi-daemon/simple-protocol.c

Install Avahi by running the following commands: 

./configure \
    --prefix=/usr                  \
    --sysconfdir=/etc              \
    --localstatedir=/var           \
    --disable-static               \
    --disable-libevent             \
    --disable-mono                 \
    --disable-monodoc              \
    --disable-python               \
    --disable-qt3                  \
    --disable-qt4                  \
    --disable-qt5                  \
    --enable-core-docs             \
    --with-distro=none             \
    --with-systemdsystemunitdir=no \
    --with-dbus-system-address='unix:path=/run/dbus/system_bus_socket' &&
make

This package does not come with a test suite.

Now, as the root user: 

make install

Command Explanations

--disable-static: This switch prevents installation of static versions of the libraries.

--disable-libevent: This parameter disables the use of libevent-2.1.12. Remove if you have it installed.

--disable-mono: This parameter disables the Mono bindings.

--disable-monodoc: This parameter disables documentation for the Mono bindings.

--disable-python: This parameter disables the scripts that depend on Python. It also allows a regular install to complete successfully.

--disable-qt3: This parameter disables the attempt to build the obsolete Qt3 portions of the package.

--disable-qt4: This parameter disables the attempt to build the obsolete Qt4Core portions of the package.

--enable-core-docs: This parameter enables the building of documentation.

--with-distro=none: There is an obsolete boot script in the distribution for LFS. This option disables it.

--with-systemdsystemunitdir=no: Without it, the daemon fails to start in BLFS, which does not support systemd.

--with-dbus-system-address=: This option prevents the package from referring to the deprecated /var/run directory.

--disable-dbus: This parameter disables the use of D-Bus.

--disable-gtk: This parameter disables the use of GTK+2.

--disable-gtk3: This parameter disables the use of GTK+3.

--disable-qt5: This parameter disables the use of Qt5, and allows building without it.

--disable-libdaemon: This parameter disables the use of libdaemon. If you use this option, avahi-daemon won't be built.

--enable-tests: This option enables the building of tests and examples.

--enable-compat-howl: This option enables the compatibility layer for HOWL.

--enable-compat-libdns_sd: This option enables the compatibility layer for libdns_sd.

Configuring avahi

Boot Script

To automatically start the avahi-daemon when the system is rebooted, install the /etc/rc.d/init.d/avahi bootscript from the blfs-bootscripts-20250225 package. 

make install-avahi

Contents

Installed Programs: avahi-autoipd, avahi-browse, avahi-browse-domains, avahi-daemon, avahi-discover-standalone, avahi-dnsconfd, avahi-publish, avahi-publish-address, avahi-publish-service, avahi-resolve, avahi-resolve-address, avahi-resolve-host-name, avahi-set-host-name, bshell, bssh, and bvnc
Installed Libraries: libavahi-client.so, libavahi-common.so, libavahi-core.so, libavahi-glib.so, libavahi-gobject.so, libavahi-libevent.so libavahi-ui-gtk3.so, libavahi-ui.so, libdns_sd.so, and libhowl.so
Installed Directories: /etc/avahi/services, /usr/include/{avahi-client,avahi-common, avahi-compat-howl, avahi-compat-libdns_sd, avahi-core, avahi-glib, avahi-gobject, avahi-libevent, avahi-ui}, /usr/lib/avahi, /usr/share/avahi

Short Descriptions

avahi-autoipd

is a IPv4LL network address configuration daemon

avahi-browse

browses for mDNS/DNS-SD services using the Avahi daemon

avahi-browse-domains

browses for mDNS/DNS-SD services using the Avahi daemon

avahi-daemon

is the Avahi mDNS/DNS-SD daemon

avahi-discover-standalone

browses for mDNS/DNS-SD services using the Avahi daemon

avahi-dnsconfd

is a Unicast DNS server from mDNS/DNS-SD configuration daemon

avahi-publish

registers a mDNS/DNS-SD service or host name or address mapping using the Avahi daemon

avahi-publish-address

registers a mDNS/DNS-SD service or host name or address mapping using the Avahi daemon

avahi-publish-service

registers a mDNS/DNS-SD service or host name or address mapping using the Avahi daemon

avahi-resolve

resolves one or more mDNS/DNS host name(s) to IP address(es) (and vice versa) using the Avahi daemon

avahi-resolve-address

resolves one or more mDNS/DNS host name(s) to IP address(es) (and vice versa) using the Avahi daemon

avahi-resolve-host-name

resolves one or more mDNS/DNS host name(s) to IP address(es) (and vice versa) using the Avahi daemon

avahi-set-host-name

changes the mDNS host name

bssh

browses for SSH servers on the local network

bvnc

browses for VNC servers on the local network