diff --git a/build/rpm/pcp.spec.in b/build/rpm/pcp.spec.in
index d9762c5..8648957 100644
--- a/build/rpm/pcp.spec.in
+++ b/build/rpm/pcp.spec.in
@@ -194,7 +194,8 @@ into standard PCP archive logs for replay with any PCP monitoring tool.
 %prep
 %setup -q
 autoconf
-./configure --libdir=%{_libdir} --libexecdir=%{_libexecdir} && touch config.done
+%configure
+touch config.done
 
 %clean
 [ ! -z "$DIST_ROOT" ] && rm -rf $DIST_ROOT
diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 502c9e6..534df98 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -40,6 +40,10 @@ AC_ARG_WITH(
 # MAKE CC CPP LD LEX YACC INSTALL AWK SED ECHO
 #
 
+dnl configure all paths to an alternate or private root
+AC_ARG_VAR(PCP_ALT_ROOT_DIR, [alternate root. Prepend all paths with the argument, default empty string])
+test -n "$PCP_ALT_ROOT_DIR" && pcp_alt_root_dir="$PCP_ALT_ROOT_DIR"
+
 dnl Guess target platfrom
 AC_CANONICAL_SYSTEM
 if test -z "$target"
@@ -1541,7 +1545,7 @@ else
 	exit 1
     fi
 fi
-test -n "$prefix" && pcp_etc_dir=`eval echo $prefix$pcp_etc_dir`
+test -n "$pcp_alt_root_dir" && pcp_etc_dir=`eval echo $pcp_alt_root_dir$pcp_etc_dir`
 AC_SUBST(pcp_etc_dir)
 
 dnl shared PCP files (shareable for diskless)
@@ -1562,7 +1566,7 @@ then
 	pcp_share_dir=/usr/pcp
     fi
 fi
-test -n "$prefix" -a -n "$pcp_share_dir" && pcp_share_dir="$prefix$pcp_share_dir"
+test -n "$pcp_alt_root_dir" -a -n "$pcp_share_dir" && pcp_share_dir="$pcp_alt_root_dir$pcp_share_dir"
 AC_SUBST(pcp_share_dir)
 
 dnl private PCP executables
@@ -1585,13 +1589,7 @@ then
 else
    pcp_binadm_dir=`eval echo $pcp_binadm_dir/pcp/bin`
 fi
-dnl
-dnl Note on $exec_prefix
-dnl    autoconf by default sets this to '${prefix}' to allow make(1)
-dnl    expansion ... we don't want this, hence the eval echo ... here
-dnl    and in similar places
-dnl
-test -n "`eval echo $exec_prefix`" && pcp_binadm_dir="`eval echo $exec_prefix$pcp_binadm_dir`"
+test -n "`eval echo $pcp_alt_root_dir`" && pcp_binadm_dir="`eval echo $pcp_alt_root_dir$pcp_binadm_dir`"
 AC_SUBST(pcp_binadm_dir)
 
 dnl non-shared (i.e. system local) PCP files
@@ -1615,21 +1613,21 @@ then
 	pcp_var_dir=/usr
     fi
 fi
-test -n "`eval echo $exec_prefix`" && pcp_var_dir="`eval echo $exec_prefix$pcp_var_dir`"
+test -n "`eval echo $pcp_alt_root_dir`" && pcp_var_dir="`eval echo $pcp_alt_root_dir$pcp_var_dir`"
 AC_SUBST(pcp_var_dir)
 
 dnl pmcd control and options files
 if test $target_os = darwin -o $target_distro = debian
 then
-    myprefix=''
-    test -n "$prefix" && myprefix="$prefix"
-    pcp_pmcdconf_path=$myprefix/etc/pmcd/pmcd.conf
-    pcp_pmcdrclocal_path=$myprefix/etc/pmcd/rc.local
-    pcp_pmcdoptions_path=$myprefix/etc/pmcd/pmcd.options
-    pcp_pmproxyoptions_path=$myprefix/etc/pmproxy/pmproxy.options
-    pcp_pmiecontrol_path=$myprefix/etc/pmie/control
-    pcp_pmsnapcontrol_path=$myprefix/etc/pmsnap/control
-    pcp_pmloggercontrol_path=$myprefix/etc/pmlogger/control
+    myroot_dir=''
+    test -n "$pcp_alt_root_dir" && myroot_dir="$pcp_alt_root_dir"
+    pcp_pmcdconf_path=$myroot_dir/etc/pmcd/pmcd.conf
+    pcp_pmcdrclocal_path=$myroot_dir/etc/pmcd/rc.local
+    pcp_pmcdoptions_path=$myroot_dir/etc/pmcd/pmcd.options
+    pcp_pmproxyoptions_path=$myroot_dir/etc/pmproxy/pmproxy.options
+    pcp_pmiecontrol_path=$myroot_dir/etc/pmie/control
+    pcp_pmsnapcontrol_path=$myroot_dir/etc/pmsnap/control
+    pcp_pmloggercontrol_path=$myroot_dir/etc/pmlogger/control
 else
     pcp_pmcdconf_path=$pcp_var_dir/config/pmcd/pmcd.conf
     pcp_pmcdrclocal_path=$pcp_var_dir/config/pmcd/rc.local
@@ -1689,10 +1687,10 @@ fi
 if test -z "$pcp_lib32_dir" ; then
 	pcp_lib32_dir=$pcp_lib_dir
 fi
-if test -n "`eval echo $exec_prefix`"
+if test -n "`eval echo $pcp_alt_root_dir`"
 then
-    pcp_lib_dir="`eval echo $exec_prefix$pcp_lib_dir`"
-    pcp_lib32_dir="`eval echo $exec_prefix$pcp_lib32_dir`"
+    pcp_lib_dir="`eval echo $pcp_alt_root_dir$pcp_lib_dir`"
+    pcp_lib32_dir="`eval echo $pcp_alt_root_dir$pcp_lib32_dir`"
 fi
 AC_SUBST(pcp_lib_dir)
 AC_SUBST(pcp_lib32_dir)
@@ -1841,7 +1839,7 @@ fi
 if test x"$man_header" = "x'\\\" t" -o x"$man_header" = "x'\\\" te" ; then
     need_old_tbl_header=true
 fi
-test -n "$prefix" && pcp_man_dir="$prefix$pcp_man_dir"
+test -n "$pcp_alt_root_dir" && pcp_man_dir="$pcp_alt_root_dir$pcp_man_dir"
 AC_SUBST(pcp_man_dir)
 AC_SUBST(have_gzipped_manpages)
 AC_SUBST(have_bzip2ed_manpages)
@@ -1864,7 +1862,7 @@ then
 	pcp_bin_dir=/bin
     fi
 fi
-test -n "`eval echo $exec_prefix`" && pcp_bin_dir="`eval echo $exec_prefix$pcp_bin_dir`"
+test -n "`eval echo $pcp_alt_root_dir`" && pcp_bin_dir="`eval echo $pcp_alt_root_dir$pcp_bin_dir`"
 AC_SUBST(pcp_bin_dir)
 
 dnl include files
@@ -1879,7 +1877,7 @@ then
 	pcp_inc_dir=/usr/include/pcp
     fi
 fi
-test -n "$prefix" && pcp_inc_dir="$prefix$pcp_inc_dir"
+test -n "$pcp_alt_root_dir" && pcp_inc_dir="$pcp_alt_root_dir$pcp_inc_dir"
 AC_SUBST(pcp_inc_dir)
 
 dnl rc/startup files
@@ -1902,14 +1900,14 @@ else
 	pcp_rc_dir=/etc
     fi
 fi
-test -n "$prefix" && pcp_rc_dir=`eval echo $prefix$pcp_rc_dir`
+test -n "$pcp_alt_root_dir" && pcp_rc_dir=`eval echo $pcp_alt_root_dir$pcp_rc_dir`
 AC_SUBST(pcp_rc_dir)
 
 dnl rc sysconfig dir
 if test -d /etc/sysconfig
 then
     pcp_sysconfig_dir=/etc/sysconfig
-    test -n "$prefix" && pcp_sysconfig_dir=`eval echo $prefix$pcp_sysconfig_dir`
+    test -n "$pcp_alt_root_dir" && pcp_sysconfig_dir=`eval echo $pcp_alt_root_dir$pcp_sysconfig_dir`
 else
     dnl we are _not_ going to use the sysconfig control mechanism to
     dnl enable/disable pmcd, pmlogger, pmie, ... during the "rc" start
@@ -1928,7 +1926,7 @@ then
 else
     pcp_log_dir=$pcp_var_dir/pcplog
 fi
-test -n "$prefix" && pcp_log_dir="$prefix$pcp_log_dir"
+test -n "$pcp_alt_root_dir" && pcp_log_dir="$pcp_alt_root_dir$pcp_log_dir"
 AC_SUBST(pcp_log_dir)
 
 dnl pid files
@@ -1941,7 +1939,7 @@ then
 else
     pcp_run_dir=$pcp_var_dir/pcprun
 fi
-test -n "$prefix" && pcp_run_dir=`eval echo $prefix$pcp_run_dir`
+test -n "$pcp_alt_root_dir" && pcp_run_dir=`eval echo $pcp_alt_root_dir$pcp_run_dir`
 AC_SUBST(pcp_run_dir)
 
 dnl temp files
@@ -1951,7 +1949,7 @@ then
 else
     pcp_tmp_dir=/tmp
 fi
-test -n "$prefix" && pcp_tmp_dir="$prefix$pcp_tmp_dir"
+test -n "$pcp_alt_root_dir" && pcp_tmp_dir="$pcp_alt_root_dir$pcp_tmp_dir"
 AC_SUBST(pcp_tmp_dir)
 
 dnl doc directory
@@ -1970,7 +1968,7 @@ then
 else
     pcp_doc_dir=/usr/share/pcp/doc
 fi
-test -n "$prefix" && pcp_doc_dir=`eval echo $prefix$pcp_doc_dir`
+test -n "$pcp_alt_root_dir" && pcp_doc_dir=`eval echo $pcp_alt_root_dir$pcp_doc_dir`
 AC_SUBST(pcp_doc_dir)
 
 dnl demos directory
@@ -1983,7 +1981,7 @@ then
 else
     pcp_demos_dir=/usr/share/pcp/demos
 fi
-test -n "`eval echo $exec_prefix`" && pcp_demos_dir="`eval echo $exec_prefix$pcp_demos_dir`"
+test -n "`eval echo $pcp_alt_root_dir`" && pcp_demos_dir="`eval echo $pcp_alt_root_dir$pcp_demos_dir`"
 AC_SUBST(pcp_demos_dir)
 
 if test -z "$XCONFIRM" 
diff --git a/src/cpan/GNUmakefile b/src/cpan/GNUmakefile
index f97ee88..4bc35e2 100644
--- a/src/cpan/GNUmakefile
+++ b/src/cpan/GNUmakefile
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ TOPDIR	= ../..
 include $(TOPDIR)/src/include/builddefs
 
 SUBDIRS	= PMDA LogSummary MMV LogImport
+LSRCFILES = GNUlocaldefs
 
 default: $(SUBDIRS)
 	$(SUBDIRS_MAKERULE)
diff --git a/src/cpan/LogImport/GNUmakefile b/src/cpan/LogImport/GNUmakefile
index 7c39c38..6e0ec4f 100644
--- a/src/cpan/LogImport/GNUmakefile
+++ b/src/cpan/LogImport/GNUmakefile
@@ -55,17 +55,12 @@ test dist: LogImport.o
 	$(PERLMAKE) -f Makefile $@
 
 include $(BUILDRULES)
+include $(TOPDIR)/src/cpan/GNUlocaldefs
 
-ifeq "$(PREFIX)" ""
-INSTALLER_OPTIONS = DESTDIR=$$DIST_ROOT PREFIX=/usr
 install: default
 ifneq "$(PACKAGE_DISTRIBUTION)" "debian"
 	$(call PERL_GET_FILELIST,$(TOPDIR)/perl-pcp-logimport.list,LogImport)
 endif
-else
-INSTALLER_OPTIONS = DESTDIR=$(PREFIX) PREFIX=/usr
-install: default install_perl
-endif
 
 install_perl:
 	$(PERLMAKE) -f Makefile install $(INSTALLER_OPTIONS)
diff --git a/src/cpan/LogSummary/GNUmakefile b/src/cpan/LogSummary/GNUmakefile
index 91c4498..4eb51af 100644
--- a/src/cpan/LogSummary/GNUmakefile
+++ b/src/cpan/LogSummary/GNUmakefile
@@ -46,17 +46,12 @@ test dist: Makefile
 	$(PERLMAKE) -f Makefile $@
 
 include $(BUILDRULES)
+include $(TOPDIR)/src/cpan/GNUlocaldefs
 
-ifeq "$(PREFIX)" ""
-INSTALLER_OPTIONS = DESTDIR=$$DIST_ROOT PREFIX=/usr
 install: default
 ifneq "$(PACKAGE_DISTRIBUTION)" "debian"
 	$(call PERL_GET_FILELIST,$(TOPDIR)/perl-pcp-logsummary.list,LogSummary)
 endif
-else
-INSTALLER_OPTIONS = DESTDIR=$(PREFIX) PREFIX=/usr
-install: default install_perl
-endif
 
 install_perl:
 	$(PERLMAKE) -f Makefile install $(INSTALLER_OPTIONS)
diff --git a/src/cpan/MMV/GNUmakefile b/src/cpan/MMV/GNUmakefile
index 98879db..aef4540 100644
--- a/src/cpan/MMV/GNUmakefile
+++ b/src/cpan/MMV/GNUmakefile
@@ -50,18 +50,13 @@ test dist: MMV.o
 	$(PERLMAKE) -f Makefile $@
 
 include $(BUILDRULES)
+include $(TOPDIR)/src/cpan/GNUlocaldefs
 
-ifeq "$(PREFIX)" ""
-INSTALLER_OPTIONS = DESTDIR=$$DIST_ROOT PREFIX=/usr
 install: default
 ifneq "$(PACKAGE_DISTRIBUTION)" "debian"
 	$(call PERL_GET_FILELIST,$(TOPDIR)/perl-pcp-mmv.list,MMV)
 	find $$DIST_ROOT -name server.pl -exec chmod 755 '{}' ';'
 endif
-else
-INSTALLER_OPTIONS = DESTDIR=$(PREFIX) PREFIX=/usr
-install: default install_perl
-endif
 
 install_perl:
 	$(PERLMAKE) -f Makefile install $(INSTALLER_OPTIONS)
diff --git a/src/cpan/PMDA/GNUmakefile b/src/cpan/PMDA/GNUmakefile
index 3903a26..fb02d30 100644
--- a/src/cpan/PMDA/GNUmakefile
+++ b/src/cpan/PMDA/GNUmakefile
@@ -51,17 +51,12 @@ test dist: PMDA.o
 	$(PERLMAKE) -f Makefile $@
 
 include $(BUILDRULES)
+include $(TOPDIR)/src/cpan/GNUlocaldefs
 
-ifeq "$(PREFIX)" ""
-INSTALLER_OPTIONS = DESTDIR=$$DIST_ROOT PREFIX=/usr
 install: default
 ifneq "$(PACKAGE_DISTRIBUTION)" "debian"
 	$(call PERL_GET_FILELIST,$(TOPDIR)/perl-pcp-pmda.list,PMDA)
 endif
-else
-INSTALLER_OPTIONS = DESTDIR=$(PREFIX) PREFIX=/usr
-install: default install_perl
-endif
 
 install_perl:
 	$(PERLMAKE) -f Makefile install $(INSTALLER_OPTIONS)