Linux Tips for Newbies

You've downloaded something cool. Now what?

After I had successfully downloaded and installed Linux (in my case, Red Hat Linux), I immediately went off in search of cool programs to download and install. And there were plenty out there. I downloaded the latest versions of Netscape, Quake 3 Test, Corel WordPerfect, StarOffice, etc., etc. But could I figure out how to install them? Err, well, let's just say I'm hoping this article will make things a little easier for you.

For example, let's say you've downloaded a program that shows up as a "tar" archive. What then?

1. You need to uncompress it! If it is a *.tgz or *.tar.gz file, you type the command use "tar -zxf <packagename>".
2. If it is a standard tar file, you should type "tar -xf <packagename>. Alternately, you can use "gunzip <packagename>" and "tar -xf <packagename>.
3. Then, you are ready to actually go about installing the program in Linux. Red Hat makes this procedure a little bit easier by supplying archives in a Red Hat package manager format called RPM. These RPM archives can be installed with the command "rpm -ivh <packagename>" ; use "rpm -Uvh <packagename>" to upgrade. Be sure to read the "readme" or "install" file. Check out http://rufus.w3.org/linux/RPM/ to find a collection of RPMs to get started with.
4. Some versions of Linux come with a graphical interface that makes it easier to manage archives compressed in RPM, TAR, ZIP, and/or other formats. In Red Hat Linux 6.1, for example, you can install an RPM package or extract a file from a ZIP archive with a simple right-click. CorelLinux includes a tool called the Archive Administrator that allows you to create or extract compressed archives in common Linux formats such as .GZ, .ZIP, .RAR or .TAR (etc.), in a friendly and intuitive drag-and-drop fashion.
5.  If your version of Linux doesn't support RPM, you can install a package such as Alien, which will help you convert these archives to other formats. This is necessary, for example, to install the Basilisk II Macintosh emulator RPM file under versions of Linux other than Red Hat. It is also possible, albeit not as easy, to add RPM support to other versions of Linux, although this is an advanced procedure to be addressed in a future article. Or, if you want to be the first on your block to become a genuine Linux guru (in which case, you'd better start calling it "GNU/Linux"), you could install SuSE 8.0 or one of the other distributions ("distros" to the GNU/Linux cognoscenti) that favours compiling everything over easily downloadable binaries. Personally, I find this approach insanely complicated, but, hey, whatever turns your crank....

If you need help on other installation-related issues, such as copying files from one disk or directory to another, or installing device drivers, see Linux setup tips, with details on how to mount drives & copy files.

Comments?

For Further Reading:

• Red Hat Linux 5.2.2 - a hand-on test.
• Red Hat Linux 6.0 - installation tips, etc.
• www.freshmeat.net is perhaps the definitive source for Linux apps.
• ftp.nuri.net/pub/FreeISO is an archive of different Linux distributions in ISO format, suitable for burning onto CD-R discs with the aid of a program such as Adaptec's Easy CD Creator.
• www.linux-mag.com: Tips for Linux newbies, including how to add users with linuxconf, how to install or remove components (without reinstalling the whole operating system) and more....
• Review: Knoppix Linux - The most painless Linux yet? [Aug. 6, 2002]

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