[R] problems compiling packages | 3.3.0 | Linux

[Evan Cooch]

Updated my R install on my GNU/Linux boxes (running RHEL 6.xx), using 
latest from CRAN (i.e., not compiling from source), and while said 
upgrade seemed to go fine, am having all sorts of problems with getting 
some packages to compile (either during an initial install attempt, or 
upgrade to existing packages).

For example, if I try to update nlme, I get the following errors, which 
are pretty well fatal:

gcc: error: 
/builddir/build/BUILD/R-3.3.0/zlib-1.2.8/target/usr/lib64/libz.a: No 
such file or directory
gcc: error: 
/builddir/build/BUILD/R-3.3.0/bzip2-1.0.6/target/usr/lib64/libbz2.a: No 
such file or directory
gcc: error: 
/builddir/build/BUILD/R-3.3.0/xz-5.2.2/target/usr/lib64/liblzma.a: No 
such file or directory
gcc: error: 
/builddir/build/BUILD/R-3.3.0/pcre-8.38/target/usr/lib64/libpcre.a: No 
such file or directory
gcc: error: 
/builddir/build/BUILD/R-3.3.0/curl-7.48.0/target/usr/lib64/libcurl.a: No 
such file or directory


I think the clue is the version of the libs the installer seems to be 
looking for. For example, zlib-1.2.8. RHEL only supports zlib-1.2.3-29 
(RHEL, like most 'enterprise distros', is typically 1 step back from 
'bleeding edge').

Any way I can force R CMD (or some such) to use system libs, instead of 
looking for specific, newer versions? Or, any other suggestions?

Serious pain in the butt. R 3.2.5 was working perfectly -- upgrade 
pretty much gummed things up, as far as compiling some packages.

Thanks in advance.

p.s. wasn't sure if this should go to r-help, or r-packages.