Problem in Installing Packages , Help plz

[unleashed01]

hii there.
i am new to linux (RHEL4) , and i am having problems in installing packages , i mean it is complicated enough for a newbie , why can't they made it as simple as , just running the setup file and Package is installed ?. just like win OS .
i have downloaded many packages , but i am failed to install any of them , i just wanna know that , which is the executable file to install the package ?, which file to run ? and what command to write?

[jking2100]

What distribution are you running? i.e. Fedora, Ubuntu, Suse...

Fedora/RedHat to install a package:
rpm -ivh package.rpm

Debian Based (Debian, Ubuntu, Mepis, PCLinux)
dpkg -i package.deb

Notice that the package examples above also have different file extensions. You must have the proper package for your distribution or use the appropriate package manager.

For Fedora/RedHat Distros:

yum install <package title>
example for the bash completion package:
yum install bash-completion

For Debian Based:
apt-get install <package title>
Example for bash completion package:
apt-get install bash-completion

[daark.child]

hii there.
i am new to linux (RHEL4) , and i am having problems in installing packages , i mean it is complicated enough for a newbie , why can't they made it as simple as , just running the setup file and Package is installed ?. just like win OS .
i have downloaded many packages , but i am failed to install any of them , i just wanna know that , which is the executable file to install the package ?, which file to run ? and what command to write?

You need to stop comparing Linux to Windows because they are fundamentally different. Since you say you are using RHEL, take a look at the Introduction to System Administration and the System Administration Guide for RHEL 4.x which is available at the Red Hat site.

[i92guboj]

hii there.
i am new to linux (RHEL4) , and i am having problems in installing packages , i mean it is complicated enough for a newbie , why can't they made it as simple as , just running the setup file and Package is installed ?. just like win OS .

First, if you want to run windows. Run windows. If you don't wanna run windows, then don't pretend that every OS over the surface of the Earth is going to act and behave like windows, just because *you* think it is the correct way.

i have downloaded many packages , but i am failed to install any of them , i just wanna know that , which is the executable file to install the package ?, which file to run ? and what command to write?

You obviously haven't even looked at the manuals or documentation or your distribution. Go back to the homepage of your distro, and read the basic mainteinance documentation.

Once you actually try to solve the problem and fail, you can come back and ask a real question.

[Manchunian]

First, if you want to run windows. Run windows. If you don't wanna run windows, then don't pretend that every OS over the surface of the Earth is going to act and behave like windows, just because *you* think it is the correct way.

I think you're being a bit harsh here i92guboj. Unleashed01 presumambly wants to run Linux, which is why (s)he is here. The blame lies with the fact that Windows is pre-installed on practically every computer you can buy, and that you're conditioned into the Windows method - it's very hard to break something you've been doing for several years and has become second nature. If you've been riding a bike since you were a kid, moving onto a monowheel takes a bit of getting used to.

Unleashed01 - in my opinion you're too impatient - you're trying to do too much too quickly. Believe me, when you've got the hang of the Linux way of installing software, you'll never look back to the Windows days again - but before that, you have some learning to do. I suggest you start here - it's only a small amount of reading but it'll help you get over the culture-shock of moving from Windows to Linux.
There are lots of different ways of installing software, but I strongly suggest you start by learning how to download programmes with your software management tool. This will first necessitate adding sources somewhere in the system (this is what jking2001 was explaining to you). Just where and what you have to modify depends on what your OS is - here I agree totally with i92guboj: you need to read up to find out what to do. For example, on Debian you have to open the file sources.lst which is found in the location /etc/apt/ and add a number of repositories. Once done you have 20 000 -odd programmes available for download, installation and update without any effort on your part whatsoever. Note: you'll only be able to do this as root (or sudo in Ubuntu) which means that you can't just click on the file and change it: you need to open a terminal, become root then, in the terminal, tell the computer to open the file with the editor you want to use.
May I suggest you look again at your Linux choice. In my opinion, Red-Hat based systems are not the easiest for beginners (I stress that this is only my opinion ). I think you'd be better off using Ubuntu, Mint or another Debian-based system (but not 'pure' Debian). This is because I think that the software management tool on these operating systems is simpler and more effective than the Red Hat, rpm, method.
Whatever you do, please don't hesitate to ask when you have a problem. But before you do, try to solve it yourself first by googling, reading the appropriate webpages and so on.

Good luck!

[unleashed01]

actually is was comparing windows to linux , not because that installing packages in windows is the only rite way , i was just comparing windows os to linux just to show the simplicity in the windows way ....

any way thx allot guys , u have provided me so much help !!
i have actually installed a couple of packages by my self ,
and both are working well
thanks again !!! (Y)

[Manchunian]

Good, I'm glad you've got it working.

i was just comparing windows os to linux just to show the simplicity in the windows way ....

No, no! The Windows way isn't so much simple as familiar! Compare:

Windows:


1. Find the programme you want on a website and hope it's a good one that won't pollute your computer with viruses and malware.
2. Click the link and wait for the download to finish.
3. Double-click the .exe...wait
4. Accept the licence.
5. Next, next, next...wait some more
6. Maybe re-boot the computer (less now with XP and Vista but it does happen).
7. Hope the programme and its dependancies don't clash with anything on your computer.
8. Wait for the day when something does clash or when you do get a virus and when this happens...
9. Re-install Windows!

Linux (Debian way):

1. Click on synaptic and enter your password.
2. Sit back and let apt download and install the programme with all its dependancies.
3. Relax, knowing that it all comes from a secure, official server and that apt has checked that there won't be any conflicts with your system.

Windows only seems easier because you have nothing to learn. But Windows will go wrong one day, unless you don't install anything of course, whereas Linux, once you know what you're doing, can function for years without so much as a reboot. The two are simply incomparable!

[i92guboj]

I think you're being a bit harsh here i92guboj. Unleashed01 presumambly wants to run Linux, which is why (s)he is here. The blame lies with the fact that Windows is pre-installed on practically every computer you can buy, and that you're conditioned into the Windows method - it's very hard to break something you've been doing for several years and has become second nature. If you've been riding a bike since you were a kid, moving onto a monowheel takes a bit of getting used to.

Don't missunderstand me. It was not my intention to be offensive. I really think that every word on that paragraph I wrote is true, but I don't think it is offensive. The proof for that is that he went, readed or looked around a bit, and he was able to install two working packages

I just lack the poetic skills to write things in a nicer way, since english is not my language. And I preffer clarity over niceness.

Again, no offense is intended. I meant to clarify the issue: it is not a matter on how windows behaves, but on how he should learn to think on a new way, since he is not using windows.

I agree with your that rpm nightmares are everything but friendly for a newcomer. I also agree that any linux distro is way easier to maintain that Windows.

You just go to your package manager (whatever that is), and install the package. Nothing else is required for basic installations. Of course, it could be much more difficult, depending on what do you want to install or what do you want to do. But that is true in any OS, including Windows.

Believe me, a bit of "shock" treatment on early stages often saves pain later. In linux it is good to be able to search on your own. That doesn't mean that you can't ask: it is the other way around. Linux people ask much more than Windows ones, and they often get lots of useful responses as well, but if you search and you can document yourself, you will be able to ask more accurate questions, which is the first step to get the best answers.

It is a friendly advise.

Good luck on your new quest.

[Manchunian]

Well, English may not be your first language but you write it very well! The trouble with these forums is that if you're not careful, you can sound harsh without intending it - and that is doubly difficult for someone whose first language isn't English.

Believe me, a bit of "shock" treatment on early stages often saves pain later.

In substance, this is absolutely correct. For example, it really isn't a good idea to download and install scripts like Automatix, because you don't really learn and these things can create problems for you later on. However, if we want Linux to become more widespread, and most of us here would love that to happen, then the shock mustn't be too great. As a teacher, I know that if my students are faced with a problem that they can't solve, most of them will just avoid the learning experience and continue with what they were doing before.

Edit: there are a couple of exceptions to Linux simplicity - and that's where the temptation to use these scripts is greatest. One of these is Java. You might need to spend some time on installing this. Help is available here if you need it.

Happy Tux!

[unleashed01]

i know that linux is one of the most fastest spreading OS , and i am learning to use it because i wanna do a part time JOB on the bases of linux along with my studies as i m doing Telecommunication Engineering , and i am also planing to do a proper certification of RHCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer)

as i don't know much about this operating system yet (Because i was using Windows from almost past 12 years) , i was wondering that why they made an operating system based on shell (i mean a text based OS) , why can't they made it an operating system completely based on GUI with all the same features as are now? i mean i have learned using shell , not completely but many commands , but don't you think that it is more time consuming then GUI and also unattractive then GUI (Especially in today's computing era) ...........

i mean i know that there must be a valid reason behind making a shell based OS , which is i am unaware of
please spread some light of your knowledge on this point also ...
REGARDS!!!