Re: db-recno.t failures with _11 on Freebsd 2.1-stable

The problem with the new db-recno.t bval tests on 2.1 Freebsd systems is
that Freebsd contains an old version of the DB library (1.74 on
2.1-stable as of early November).  The recno bval handling in this
version of the library is simply broken (bval is ignored).

Here's some documentation.  We're probably going to get a lot of bug
reports about this; I wish there was a better answer.  I don't think I'd
want to call disabling the tests on systems with the old library better,
though.

p5p-msgid: <pzohg0r5tr.fsf@eeyore.ibcinc.com>

INSTALL

@@ -885,6 +885,11 @@ If you get syntax errors on '(', try -DCRIPPLED_CC.
 
 Machines with half-implemented dbm routines will need to #undef I_ODBM
 
+db-recno failure on tests 51, 53 and 55:  Old versions of the DB library
+(including the DB library which comes with FreeBSD 2.1) had broken
+handling of recno databases with modified bval settings.  Upgrade your
+DB library or OS.
+
 =back
 
 =head1 make test

hints/freebsd.sh

@@ -63,6 +63,16 @@ case "$osvers" in
 	d_setreuid='define'
 	d_setegid='undef'
 	d_seteuid='undef'
+	cat <<EOF
+
+Unless you've upgraded your DB library manually you will see failures in
+db-recno tests 51, 53 and 55.  The behavior these tests are checking is
+broken in the DB library which is included with the OS.  You can ignore
+the errors if you're never going to use the broken functionality (recno
+databases with a modified bval), otherwise you'll have to upgrade your
+DB library or OS.
+
+EOF
 	;;
 #
 # 2.2 and above have phkmalloc(3).