In this tutorial, we’ll explore how to fix the “Fatal error: rpc/rpc.h: No such file or directory” that you may encounter when installing Snort on Ubuntu 21.04. This error typically arises due to a missing rpc/rpc.h file, which is a part of the libntirpc-dev package.
To fix the "Fatal error: rpc/rpc.h: No such file or directory" when installing Snort on Ubuntu 21.04, there are a few solutions. First, you can try installing the libntirpc-dev package using the command sudo apt install libntirpc-dev. If that doesn’t work, you can manually copy the rpc/rpc.h file to the correct directory using the command sudo cp /usr/include/tirpc/rpc/rpc.h /usr/include/rpc/. Lastly, if the file is located in a different directory, modify the ./configure command to include the correct path.
Pre-requisites
Before we dive into the solutions, ensure you have installed the necessary dependencies, such as libpcap, libpcre, and dnet. These libraries are essential for Snort’s functionality.
Solution 1: Installing the libntirpc-dev package
The first solution involves installing the libntirpc-dev package. This package contains the rpc/rpc.h file required for Snort’s installation.
To install the package, run the following command in your terminal:
sudo apt install libntirpc-devIn this command, sudo is used to execute the command with root privileges, apt is the package handling utility in Ubuntu, and install is the operation that installs the package named libntirpc-dev.
After installing the package, try running the Snort installation command again:
./configure --enable-sourcefire && make && sudo make installHere, ./configure is a script that checks whether your system has the necessary dependencies to compile the software. The --enable-sourcefire option enables specific features from Sourcefire. make is a tool that automatically builds executable programs and libraries from source code, and sudo make install installs the compiled program.
Solution 2: Manually copying the rpc/rpc.h file
If the first solution doesn’t work, the rpc/rpc.h file might not be in the correct directory. You can manually copy it to the /usr/include/rpc directory.
First, check if the rpc/rpc.h file exists in the /usr/include directory by running:
ls /usr/include/rpc/rpc.hIf the file doesn’t exist, manually copy it from the /usr/include/tirpc/rpc directory to the /usr/include/rpc directory using the command:
sudo cp /usr/include/tirpc/rpc/rpc.h /usr/include/rpc/In this command, cp is used to copy files or directories, /usr/include/tirpc/rpc/rpc.h is the source file, and /usr/include/rpc/ is the destination directory.
After copying the file, retry the Snort installation command.
Solution 3: Modifying the ./configure command
Sometimes, the rpc/rpc.h file might be located in a different directory. In this case, you need to modify the ./configure command to include the correct path.
First, use the dpkg -L libntirpc-dev command to list all the files included in the libntirpc-dev package:
dpkg -L libntirpc-devIf the rpc/rpc.h file is located in a different directory, modify the ./configure command to include the correct path. For example:
./configure --enable-sourcefire --includedir=/usr/include/tirpc/Here, --includedir is an option that sets the directory for installing header files. /usr/include/tirpc/ is the directory where the rpc/rpc.h file is located.
After running the modified ./configure command, run make and sudo make install.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the “Fatal error: rpc/rpc.h: No such file or directory” issue when installing Snort on Ubuntu 21.04. If you’re still facing issues, consider seeking help from Ubuntu’s community help documentation or Snort’s user mailing list.
Snort is an open-source network intrusion detection system (NIDS) that monitors network traffic for suspicious activity and alerts administrators when potential threats are detected. It is widely used for network security monitoring and can be deployed as a standalone sensor or as part of a larger security infrastructure.
This error occurs when the rpc/rpc.h file, which is required for Snort’s installation, is missing. It can be resolved by either installing the libntirpc-dev package, manually copying the rpc/rpc.h file to the correct directory, or modifying the ./configure command to include the correct path for the file.
To install the necessary dependencies for Snort on Ubuntu 21.04, you can use the apt package handling utility. Run the following command in your terminal:
sudo apt install libpcap-dev libpcre3-dev libdnet-devThis command will install the libpcap-dev, libpcre3-dev, and libdnet-dev packages, which are essential for Snort’s functionality.
You can check if the rpc/rpc.h file exists in the /usr/include directory by running the following command:
ls /usr/include/rpc/rpc.hIf the file exists, it will be listed in the terminal output. If it doesn’t exist, you may need to follow the steps mentioned in Solution 2 to manually copy the file or Solution 3 to modify the ./configure command.
If you’re still facing issues with installing Snort on Ubuntu 21.04, you can seek help from the Ubuntu’s community help documentation or the Snort’s user mailing list. These resources provide valuable information and support from the community to help resolve any installation-related problems.
