What is the most easiest way to create a virtual package in debian?

Question

1.) What is the most easiest way to create a "virtual package" in debian?

My problem: I have compiled/installed mysql from source and now need to tell other packages that mysql is already installed (otherwise they will also try to install mysql...). I searched the internet but did not find a quick answer to this question.

2.)And is there an easy command to tell aptitude to install something, but exclusing a specific required library/dependency (like mysql). This would be another way to solve the problem...

Thank you very much!! Markus

Answer 1

Install and use the debian package named equivs.

... Another use is to circumvent dependency checking: by letting dpkg think a particular package name and version is installed when it isn't

man equivs-build

Answer 2

Look up checkinstall; after building from source, it creates .deb packages that can be installed via dpkg, thereby creating an entry in the APT database.