New from Windows, and horribly confused

**fragment** · 09-05-2003

and i belive lib files are library files similar to winblows DLL files they contain the subfunctions that a main program calls from

**andutt** · 09-05-2003

Are you executing the rpm-command as root??

**Oki** · 09-05-2003

No, I am not logged in as root before I try to run the .rpm. Do I need to

Code:

su root

before I use the .rpm?

**Dolda2000** · 09-05-2003

You don't need to type "su root"; just "su" will do fine. Without arguments, "root" is implied.

Btw., lib stands for library, and in terms of files it can be several. Strictly speaking, it is a file that contains a set of utility subroutines used when programming. These are most commonly distributed in .a (object Archive) files and .so (Shared Object) files, the former being for static linking into the program executable and the latter for dynamic linking at runtime. In that way, .so files are the UNIX counterpart for Windows DLLs. Technically, subroutines could be distributed in .o (relocateable Object) files, but since a library most often contains several relocateable objects, they are often archive in one .a file, unless a .so file is made of them. .so files are also referred to as shared libraries.

**Oki** · 09-05-2003

So I do need to

Code:

su

before I install the .rpm?

I thought Linux was open source. Why does SuSE cost money?

**bpark** · 09-05-2003

Some distros charge money. Suse is one of them and I believe you pay for money if you want Red Hat Pro.

**bmxface** · 09-05-2003

Its up to the software makers to charge you :\

**Dolda2000** · 09-05-2003

The difference between the RedHat that you download and RedHat Pro is that you get printed manuals and support with Redhat Pro; that's why it costs.

SuSE is doing strange things, I think. I think that their yast program is kind of proprietary or something. That's one reason that I don't use SuSE.

And, yes, you do need to run su to install an RPM. Installations always have to be carried out as root, since they have to write to directories to which only root have permission to.

**Oki** · 09-06-2003

Wow; I can't thank you all enough. You have taught me mad stuff! More to come, doubtless, but ty to everyone!

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